Deficits in Dynamic Balance and Hop Performance Following ACL Reconstruction Are Not Dependent on Meniscal Injury History.
Adam VanZile, Malcolm Driessen, Patrick Grabowski and 2 others
PMID 36518839WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescent athletes with isolated ACL tears and those with meniscal repairs or partial meniscectomies showed similar deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance.
Meniscal injury history did not change the degree of limb asymmetry at return-to-sport testing.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference in inter-limb asymmetry for dynamic balance or hop tests between athletes with isolated ACL tears, meniscal repairs, or partial meniscectomies.
02All groups exhibited significant deficits in the involved limb compared to the uninvolved limb for anterior and posteromedial balance and single/triple hop distances.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, particularly for the partial meniscectomy group (n=6), which limits the ability to detect subtle differences between surgical groups. Testing occurred at varying times post-surgery (5-11 months) based on when athletes met return-to-sport criteria, introducing variability in recovery timelines. The study did not account for the extent or location of the meniscal injury, which could influence mechanical stability. Clinical measures like the Y Balance Test and hop tests may not be sensitive enough to detect subtle postural control deficits. Graft type (bone-patellar tendon-bone vs. hamstring) was not analyzed as a variable.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of difference between groups as evidence that meniscal injuries are clinically insignificant. The study shows meniscal history does not predict limb asymmetry, but all athletes still had substantial deficits in the involved limb. The small sample size, especially in the partial meniscectomy group, means this null finding should not be used to dismiss potential long-term risks associated with meniscectomy.