Concomitant Popliteomeniscal Fascicles Tears Are Found in 21% of Professional Soccer Players With Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

PurposeTo investigate the incidence of popliteomeniscal fascicles (PMF) tears in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in professional soccer players, to describe arthroscopic and MRI findings and treatment of these lesions with clinical outcomes, and to evaluate the incidence of subsequent lateral meniscus tears and ACL reinjury.MethodsACL reconstructions on soccer players were retrospectively analyzed, and among them, a cohort of patients with PMFs tears was reviewed. The cohort was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, arthrometric testing, Lysholm score and IKDC score. The occurrence of subsequent lateral meniscus tears and ACL reinjury were evaluated.ResultsA total of 208 ACL reconstructions were identified. From these, 43 males and 3 females with a mean age of 24 ± 4.2 years were included. Median time from injury to surgery was 5 days. Pre-operative MRI showed a tear of posterior PMFs in 24 out of 47 knees (51.1%). The mean pre-op arthrometric measured laxity was 4.3 ± 1.65 mm, and post-op 0.1 ± 1.1 mm. Pre-op Lysholm score and IKDC score were respectively 50.4 ± 25.4 and 39.6 ± 5, post-op was 98 ± 2.4 and 73.6 ± 1.2. Mean time to return to play, at the same pr-op level for all patients, was 184 ± 41.7 days. One patient underwent ACL revision due to a reinjury 9 months after surgery, while no lateral meniscus tears occurred in the follow-up period.ConclusionsPopliteomeniscal fascicles tears are found in approximately 20% of professional soccer players with acute ACL injuries. After ACL reconstruction and PFT repair, outcomes including return to play are good, ACL retear is low, and recurrent lateral meniscus tears were not observed.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, Therapeutic case series.