Time Is of the Essence

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Camp CL Lebaschi A Cong GT , et al. Timing of postoperative mechanical loading affects healing following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: analysis in a murine model. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2017;99(16):1382-1391. doi:10.2106/JBJS.17.00133

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Deabate L Previtali D Grassi A Filardo G Candrian C Delcogliano M. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction within 3 weeks does not increase stiffness and complications compared with delayed reconstruction: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(5):1263-1272. doi:10.1177/0363546519862294

Hickie KL Salmon LJ Gooden BR , et al. The association between delaying anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in adolescents and increasing meniscal and chondral pathology: a cohort study of 2740 adolescents. Am J Sports Med. 2025;53(2):291-298. doi:10.1177/03635465241306759

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Lu Y Jurgensmeier K Till SE , et al. Early ACLR and risk and timing of secondary meniscal injury compared with delayed ACLR or nonoperative treatment: a time-to-event analysis using machine learning. Am J Sports Med. 2022;50(13):3544-3556. doi:10.1177/03635465221124258

Moran J Amaral JZ Tollefson LV , et al. Articular cartilage injuries in pediatric and adolescent patients undergoing medial meniscal ramp lesion repair during primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a multicenter study. Am J Sports Med. 2025;53(12):2817-2826. doi:10.1177/03635465251366440

Prodromidis AD Drosatou C Mourikis A Sutton PM Charalambous CP. Relationship between timing of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and chondral injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2022;50(13):3719-3731. doi:10.1177/03635465211036141

Prodromidis AD Drosatou C Thivaios GC Zreik N Charalambous CP. Timing of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and relationship with meniscal tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2021;49(9):2551-2562. doi:10.1177/0363546520964486

Rahardja R Love H Clatworthy MG Young SW. Delayed reconstruction is associated with higher rates of medial meniscus and chondral injury following ACL injury: a New Zealand ACL Registry Study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. Published online August 18, 2025. doi:10.1002/ksa.70002

Reider B. A matter of timing. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(2):273-274. doi:10.1177/0363546515570023

Retzky JS Carballo C Simonian L , et al. Early anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction mitigates the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis in a murine model of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Am J Sports Med. 2026;54(1):17-26.

Shelbourne KD Wilckens JH Mollabashy A DeCarlo M. Arthrofibrosis in acute anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The effect of timing of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Am J Sports Med. 1991;19(4):332-336. doi:10.1177/036354659101900402