Anterior cruciate ligament injury
ICD-10 S83.5 · ICD-11 NC93.6&XA0ZC8

Treatment of ACL Tear with Concurrent Meniscal Tear of the Knee

When an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear occurs alongside a meniscal tear, both injuries must be addressed together. The presence of meniscal pathology directly influences surgical planning, timing, and technique selection.

Clinical Scenario

The patient presents with an ACL tear of the knee and a concurrent meniscal tear. This combination requires coordinated management — the meniscal injury must be factored into the reconstruction plan, as meniscal preservation is a priority for optimising long-term joint health and function.

Treatment Approach (partial)

Surgical reconstruction using an autograft, with concurrent management of the meniscal tear, forms the basis of this protocol — timing of intervention is a key consideration. The complete reconstruction strategy, autograft selection, and meniscal management algorithm are available in the full protocol.

Treatment Goals
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References

  1. In patients with ACL tear and meniscal tear, meniscal preservation should be considered to optimize joint health and function.
  2. When surgical treatment is indicated for an acute isolated ACL tear, early reconstruction is preferred because the risk of additional cartilage and meniscal injury starts to increase within 3 months.
  3. When performing an ACL reconstruction, surgeons should consider autograft over allograft to improve patient outcomes and decrease ACL graft failure rate, particularly in young and/or active patients.
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