• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Howard J. Luks, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon

Howard J. Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Specialist

  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
    • Shoulder Injuries
    • Knee Injuries
    • Elbow Injuries
  • About
Blog / Articles / Knee / ACL

Does ACL Surgery Prevent Arthritis?

Howard J. Luks, MD Updated September 17, 2021

Featured image placeholder

ACL tears are far more common than in the past.  Up until recently our primary goal of ACL surgery was to stabilize your knee to prevent further damage.  It appears that we now have evidence that ACL surgery may minimize the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

If you try to return to sports with a knee without an ACL the knee becomes unstable.  When the knee is unstable it can give way. Each time your knee gives way there is a risk that you will incur further damage to the meniscus or the cartilage on the ends of the bones.  Damage to a meniscus or the cartilage on the end of the bone will lead to osteoarthritis.

ACL-knee-arthritis
Cartilage damage from untreated ACL tear

When you tear your ACL you might also have a meniscus tear. Many ACL tears occur without damage to the other structures in the knee.   When we see an athlete in our office with an ACL tear the primary goal of surgery to repair or reconstruct the ACL is to try and allow that athlete to return to the field.  Adults who tear their ACL have a choice.  Many adults can live a long happy and active life without an ACL.   Some adults with ACL tears will experience instability.  In those instances, they will have a choice to make.  Change their activities or have ACL surgery to stabilize the knee.

ACL arthritis knee
Copyright Medical Media Group.

Repairing the ACL has advantages beyond allowing you to return to your active lifestyle.  By stabilizing the knee an ACL reconstruction can minimize the risk of tearing a meniscus which is common in an unstable knee.  If we can minimize the risk of developing a meniscus tear or other further damage then we can decrease the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. Bracing is an option considered in older individuals to try and control a knee which is unstable.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic recently published a retrospective review looking at about 1000 patients followed over a 10 year period.  Their study shows that an early reconstruction of the ACL can be protective.  Early ACL surgery can prevent the knee from developing arthritis as a result of further damage to the meniscus cartilage.

Although more research is necessary, it appears that ACL surgery can decrease the risk of developing osteoarthritis after an ACL tear.

 

Amazon affiliate link on this post

Categories: ACL, Knee Arthritis Tags: ACL, Knee Arthritis, Osteoarthritis

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.
Longevity... Simplified: Living A Longer, Healthier Life Shouldn’t Be Complicated

My new book is available now.

“The seven simple steps to make ‘longevity simplified’, will help to improve your metabolic health right now.” – Dr. Neil Meigh

Learn More
Read Reviews

Related Articles

Exercise is more important than ever
Does Exercise Cause Osteoarthritis?
When should I have ACL surgery
Should We Delay ACL Surgery to Decrease Risk of Arthritis
burning knee pain runner
Alternative to Knee Replacement: Knee Joint Distraction
Should I return after ACL surgery
Why Some Athletes Never Return to Sports After ACL Surgery
Did I tear my ACL?
Did I Tear My ACL? 
ACL Recovery
How Long Does It Take To Recover From ACL Surgery?
Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nazan says

    September 3, 2016 at 11:07 pm

    My 14 year old totally tore her ACL during a bit at a soccer game. She also may have damaged the miniscus. Her growth plates are not totally closed. But Doctor thaight it would be Ok. Should we wait to have the surgery and which graft should we use for Surgery if we decide to do sirgery

    • Howard J. Luks, MD says

      September 10, 2016 at 2:12 pm

      Tough injury at this age. Answer depends on her bone age and what her growth plates look like. There are techniques where we can avoid the growth plates completely… or we use a soft tissue graft ( one of her hamstring tendons) and then fixation of the graft above the femoral growth plate and below the tibial growth plate. Regardless of technique there is always a risk of injury to the growth plate.

  2. Radha says

    September 20, 2016 at 10:02 pm

    i am 50 years old and I not able to walk properly because of my right knee pain since last 6 weeks.
    Today MRI report came and it says –
    Thickening and hyper attenuation of the ACL.
    Chronic tear noted of the ACL
    Moderate tri compartmental osteoarthritis.

    Do I need to go for ACL surgery? I love to do exercise and maintain my health but my knee pain preventing me even from walking. Please let me know.

Primary Sidebar

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Longevity... Simplified: Living A Longer, Healthier Life Shouldn’t Be Complicated

My new book is available now.

Learn More
Read Reviews

Reader Favorites

  • Batters shoulder posterior labral tear
    Batter’s Shoulder : Posterior Labral Tears
  • calcific tendonitis and severe shoulder pain
    Why Does My Shoulder Hurt So Much?
  • LEg exercises improve longevity
    Runners require strength too: What to do and when to do it
  • lactate polarized training
    Lactate, the lactate shuttle, and lactate threshold workouts in polarized training
  • Zone 2 heart rate training
    Zone 2 Heart Rate Training For Longevity and Performance
  • knee swelling
    Pain In The Front Of The Knee: 6 Common Causes
  • Polarized training for runners
    Polarized training for everyday runners: Part 1
  • should I have surgery
    Sometimes our joints just hurt, and it’s ok not to know why

Howard J Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
128 Ashford Avenue
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

Phone: (914)-559-1900
Book Appointment

Pages

  • About
  • Upcoming Books
  • Testimonials
  • In The News
  • Media Photos
  • Contact

Topics

  • Shoulder
  • Knee
  • Elbow
  • Metabolic Health
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Training

More

  • COVID
  • Ankle
  • Hip
  • PRP
  • Running
  • Sports Medicine
  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
  • About

© 2023 · Howard J Luks, MD · Disclaimer & Terms · Privacy Policy
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This site should be used for informational purposes only.