Blood Biomarkers Associated with Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis of the Knee following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a form of osteoarthritis that arises secondary to trauma or an injury. The knee is most commonly affected, and risk for PTOA increases substantially following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Blood-based biomarkers have been analyzed following ACL injury to predict PTOA progression and severity. The purpose of this review is to synthesize the literature on blood biomarkers related to inflammation and cartilage turnover in association with the development of PTOA following an ACL injury. Of the eight identified studies, the majority, 75%, were cohort based (n = 6). The collective findings suggest potential value in blood biomarkers for evaluating the systemic changes after ACL injury. However, current evidence for the clinical utility of these markers to identify individuals after ACL injury who will develop PTOA is inconclusive. Further work is needed to advance these findings and clarify differences by sex, race, and ethnicity.