Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Reduces Bone Mineral Areal Mass

PurposeThe aim of this study was to prospectively follow bone mineral areal mass (BMA) changes in the calcaneii, hips, and lumbar spine after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring tendon autografts.MethodsPatients with a unilateral ACL injury scheduled for reconstruction were included in the study. The BMA mass was measured in both calcaneii, the hips, and the lumbar spine using the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technique. Quality of life was estimated using the EQ-5D questionnaire, and activity was measured using the Tegner activity score. The patients were assessed before surgery and after 6, 18, 36, and 60 months.ResultsForty-eight patients (21 female and 27 male patients), median age 31 years (17 to 64 years), participated in the study for 5 years. After 5 years, the female patients had lost 9.5% (P < .001) and 10.1% (P < .001) of their BMA in the calcaneus on the operated and nonoperated sides, respectively. Correspondingly, the male patients had lost 6.5% (P = .004) and 8.5% (P < .001) on the operated and nonoperated sides, respectively. In the hips, the female patients had lost 4.0% (P < .001) and 2.7% (P < .001) on the operated and the nonoperated sides, respectively. Among the male patients, the BMA loss was 3.4% (P = .002) and 4.8% (P < .001) in the hips on the operated and the nonoperated sides, respectively. The EQ-5D index was a mean (standard deviation [SD]) of 0.72 (0.23) before surgery and 0.86 (0.17) (P < .001) after 5 years. The preinjury Tegner activity level was a median (range) 7.5 (1 to 10). The preoperative Tegner activity level was 2.5 (0 to 9) and increased to 4 (1 to 9) (P = .002) after 5 years.ConclusionsBoth female and male patients had a significant decrease in BMA in both calcaneii and both hips during the 5-year study period compared with a reference population of Swedish healthy women and men. The patients increased their Tegner activity level and improved their EQ-5D index during the 5-year follow-up period.Level of EvidenceLevel II, prognostic prospective study.