Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025 Nov 14. doi: 10.1002/ksa.70188. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The primary objective was to assess the clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction following arthrolysis for Cyclops syndrome postanterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr). The secondary objective was to compare clinical and functional outcomes in patients who underwent early and late arthroscopic debridement. We hypothesised that arthroscopic anterior arthrolysis for Cyclops syndrome post-ACLr leads to significant improvement in functional outcomes and patient satisfaction.
METHODS: One hundred ninety-seven patients underwent arthroscopic anterior arthrolysis for Cyclops syndrome after primary ACLr between 1 January 2018 and 1 July 2024. The simple knee value (SKV), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), return to sports after injury (RSI) score, Tegner score and time to return to sports (RTS) were assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed to compare early (≤6 months) versus late debridement (>6 months) and evaluate the impact of age and symptoms, using a linear and logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: 4.3% (n = 197) of our primary ACLr underwent an arthroscopic arthrolysis for Cyclops syndrome. One hundred eighty-two patients (92%) would repeat the anterior debridement. The mean SKV was 79.6 ± 16.4%, the mean IKDC score was 80.1 ± 13.3 and the mean RSI score was 62.7 ± 26.6. Younger age than 24.5 at ACLr was significantly associated with RTS to preinjury level following arthroscopic debridement of the Cyclops lesion (p = 0.039), and age younger than 29.5 years was significantly linked to resumption of running (p = 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between early and late debridement when it came to RTS (6.9 ± 5.5 vs. 5.3 ± 4.4; p = 0.10) and functional scores (SKV 82.1 ± 10.6 vs. 79.0 ± 17.5; p = 0.19, IKDC 83.3 ± 11.1 vs. 79.3 ± 13.7; p = 0.12, RSI 67.4 ± 22.9 vs. 61.4 ± 27.4, p = 0.23).
CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic anterior arthrolysis for Cyclops syndrome post-ACLr is an effective and satisfactory procedure regardless of timing. Young population achieve superior functional recovery and RTS to preinjury level.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.
PMID:41235440 | DOI:10.1002/ksa.70188
