Timing of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

Description: Timing of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Now, Later, or Never? Thomas L. Schwenk, MD (Journal Watch)
Functional outcomes were similar for immediate reconstruction and optional later reconstruction.
Elite athletes with ACL tears who perform intense cutting and pivoting maneuvers usually will need early ACL reconstruction, but nonelite athletes might do well without reconstruction. An editorialist makes an additional point: "Ultimately, the most important predictor of the long-term outcome may not be instability due to ACL deficiency but rather the presence of articular-cartilage or meniscal lesions, which may lead to premature arthritis."
Comment on Frobell et al N Engl J Med 2010; 363:331-342 July 22, 2010