title: Combined reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in competitive athletes.
abstract: Fifty-eight professional and competitive amateur athletes had a combined reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with use of the semitendinosus tendon for the intra-articular portion of the reconstruction and a strip of iliotibial band for the extra-articular augmentation. Thirty patients (thirty-two knees) were evaluated two to seven years postoperatively to assess the results and the ability to return to athletics. Follow-up consisted of an interview, clinical and roentgenographic examinations, and testing with an arthrometer. Six patients (20 per cent) had a rating of excellent; twenty-two (73 per cent), good; and two (7 per cent), fair. There were no poor results. Of the thirty-two knees, twenty had an associated injury: twenty meniscal tears in eighteen knees, three tears of the medial collateral ligament, four osteochondral fractures of the lateral femoral condyle, and two loose bodies. Combined reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament resulted in improved stability of the knee in these patients whose goal of treatment was to be able to resume sports at a highly competitive level.
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington 98433.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Scranton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications