Delayed anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction increases the incidence of medial meniscal bucket handle tears and medial compartment chondral injuries in patients aged 40 years and older

Introduction No widely accepted evidence-based indications exist for the initial surgical management of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries ≥ 40 years old, and treatment for these patients remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between elapsed time from ACL injury to surgery and the incidence of meniscal tears and chondral injury in patients aged ≥ 40 years. Materials and methods The patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction were divided into two groups based on elapsed time from injury to surgery: early group,