title: Partial versus complete acute anterior cruciate ligament tears. The results of nonoperative treatment.
abstract: A study was undertaken to determine whether a significantly different clinical outcome could be expected following nonoperative treatment of acute partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears from that of complete tears. A detailed follow-up of 107 patients with arthroscopically confirmed tears was obtained; 72 were complete tears and 35 partial. The overall results in those with partial tears were 23% excellent, 29% good, 17% fair, and 31% poor; with complete tears the results were 11% excellent, 20% good, 15% fair, and 54% poor. The patients with partial tears had a lower incidence of associated meniscal tears, needed fewer reconstructions and more of them returned to sport than those with complete tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Hospital, Oakland, California 94627-5000.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barrack
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kneisl
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries