Tibial articular cartilage wear in varus osteoarthritic knees: correlation with anterior cruciate ligament integrity and severity of deformity.

Tibial articular cartilage wear was assessed intraoperatively in 100 consecutive patients with varus osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Severity of deformity on radiographs, integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at surgery, and body mass index were recorded. Posterior half of the medial tibial plateau was more commonly involved in knees with ACL deficiency; there was predominantly anteromedial involvement with an intact ACL. Varus deformity was significantly greater in knees with a deficient ACL than with an intact ACL. Severity of deformity did not alter the wear pattern, irrespective of the ACL integrity. The functional status of ACL in an osteoarthritic knee can be corroborated with the wear pattern on the tibial plateau articular cartilage.