Male athletes are at increased risk of cartilage lesions in anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured knees, placing them at higher risk of
developing the debilitating joint condition osteoarthritis (OA), says a
new study presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports
Medicine's 2011 Annual Meeting in San Diego. A delay to reconstructive
surgery did not increase the risk of developing full-thickness
cartilage lesions, as long as surgery occurred within 12 months of
injury.