Medial compartment underloading 3 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with lower tibiofemoral cartilage glycosaminoglycan content 24-months after surgery

Osteoarthritis (OA) development after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a well-documented phenomenon. Loading alterations early after surgery have been linked to the development of OA. Early OA is characterized by the loss of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) within cartilage. This study examined the relationship between medial compartment knee joint loading 3 months after ACLR with GAG content 24 months after ACLR. A significant positive correlation between loading at 3 months and cartilage’s 24-month GAG content was found within select regions of the involved limb.