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Case Reports: Unusual association of diseases/symptoms
Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament corrected with autograft reconstruction
  1. Ali Zagham Nasir1,
  2. Timothy Henne2 and
  3. Nasir Khan3
  1. 1Internal Medicine Residency, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
  2. 2Orthopaedics, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
  3. 3Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ali Zagham Nasir; ali.nasir{at}trinity-health.org

Abstract

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most frequently injured knee ligament, typically in non-contact athletic injuries in young adults. Mucoid degeneration of the ACL (ACL-MD) is an uncommon ACL pathology in which glycosaminoglycans deposition within the collagenous bundles leads to hypertrophy, loss of full knee flexion and knee pain without instability. ACL-MD usually presents in individuals over 40 years with sudden-onset knee pain after minimal trauma or as an incidental MRI finding. ACL-MD is rarely described in young adults. We present a case of ACL-MD in a previously healthy adult in his early 20s who presented with 3-month recalcitrant dull left knee pain and limited range of motion after ‘stepping funny’ with slight twisting. This case highlights the need to critically reflect on the anatomical structures when presented with musculoskeletal pathologies and to consider the unique presentation of musculoskeletal disease in atypical age groups.

  • General practice / family medicine
  • Orthopaedics
  • Musculoskeletal syndromes
  • Knee laxity
  • Rheumatology

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-253307

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: AZN. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: AZN, TH and NK.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.