Chondrocalcin as a marker of articular cartilage degeneration in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees.

Abstract

This study assessed articular cartilage deterioration and the effect of meniscal tears to evaluate the usefulness of chondrocalcin as a joint fluid marker in 43 patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. A significant correlation was found between the cartilage damage and time after injury. The high incidence of long longitudinal tears of the medial meniscus with increased cartilage damage, especially in chronic cases, suggests that this type of meniscal tear contributed to the deterioration of ACL-deficient knees. Chondrocalcin concentrations were found to have a significant correlation with cartilage damage.