Early anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not affect 5 year change in knee cartilage thickness : secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Objective: To compare 5-year change in femorotibial cartilage thickness in 121 young, active adults with an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear randomized to a strategy of structured rehabilitation plus early ACL reconstruction (ACLR) or structured rehabilitation plus optional delayed ACLR. Design: 62 patients were randomized to early ACLR, 59 to optional delayed ACLR. Magnetic resonance i