title: Suture of the torn anterior cruciate ligament. 5-year follow-up of 60 cases using an instrumental stability test.
abstract: 60 patients were examined 5 (2-9) years after simple suture of acute rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. In the follow-up the patients were examined clinically and by instrumental testing of stability (Acufex Knee Signature System). 10 knees had had a ligament reconstruction during the follow-up period, 28 knees were stable, and 22 unstable. By the Lysholm knee-score, function was rated excellent or good in both stable and unstable knees and the Tegner activity score dropped insignificantly. A positive correlation was found between the measured laxity and the clinical tests. Instrumental stability testing seems to be a reliable supplementary tool in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency. Ligament repair by simple suture was not better than reported results on conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Horsens Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fruensgaard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krøner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013536:Suture Techniques