Lund University's Faculty of Medicine has published a study on the long-term consequences of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries, particularly their association with osteoarthritis (OA). The study, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, reviews the pathogenic mechanisms and variables contributing to the variability in outcomes after such injuries. ACL and meniscus injuries are common in athletes and the general population, with a significant proportion of those diagnosed developing OA, often with pain and functional impairment, even in young or middle-aged individuals. The study highlights the lack of evidence supporting the protective role of ACL or meniscus repair/reconstruction against OA development. It also notes poor reporting of critical study variables, hindering data pooling or meta-analysis. ACL injuries are most common in athletes, with higher incidence in adolescents involved in pivoting sports. Meniscal injuries frequently accompany ACL tears, and the risk of OA increases with age, sex, obesity, and other factors. The study emphasizes the need for better understanding of these variables to improve prevention and treatment strategies. It also calls for high-quality, well-reported studies to assess the effectiveness of current treatments. The study concludes that ACL reconstruction does not significantly reduce OA development, and that long-term outcomes are influenced by a combination of environmental and endogenous factors. The study underscores the importance of injury prevention and highlights the need for improved study quality to better understand the long-term consequences of ACL and meniscus injuries.Lund University's Faculty of Medicine has published a study on the long-term consequences of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries, particularly their association with osteoarthritis (OA). The study, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, reviews the pathogenic mechanisms and variables contributing to the variability in outcomes after such injuries. ACL and meniscus injuries are common in athletes and the general population, with a significant proportion of those diagnosed developing OA, often with pain and functional impairment, even in young or middle-aged individuals. The study highlights the lack of evidence supporting the protective role of ACL or meniscus repair/reconstruction against OA development. It also notes poor reporting of critical study variables, hindering data pooling or meta-analysis. ACL injuries are most common in athletes, with higher incidence in adolescents involved in pivoting sports. Meniscal injuries frequently accompany ACL tears, and the risk of OA increases with age, sex, obesity, and other factors. The study emphasizes the need for better understanding of these variables to improve prevention and treatment strategies. It also calls for high-quality, well-reported studies to assess the effectiveness of current treatments. The study concludes that ACL reconstruction does not significantly reduce OA development, and that long-term outcomes are influenced by a combination of environmental and endogenous factors. The study underscores the importance of injury prevention and highlights the need for improved study quality to better understand the long-term consequences of ACL and meniscus injuries.