Clinical comparison of freeze-dried and fresh frozen patellar tendon allografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the knee.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of freeze-dried compared to fresh frozen allograft tissue used as a substitute for a ruptured ACL of the knee. In addition, the incidence of any graft rejection phenomena was recorded. Forty-one patients with ACL deficient knees underwent reconstructive surgery using a patellar bone-tendon-bone allograft that had been freeze-dried (Group 1, N = 14) or fresh frozen (Group 2, N = 27). All patients underwent the same implant technique and rehabilitation program. Followup ranged from 24 to 36 months. The evaluation consisted of subjective, objective, and instrumented laxity testing (KT-1000, MEDmetric, San Diego, CA; and Genucom, FARO Medical Technologies, Inc., Montreal, Canada). There were 31 males and 10 females. Eleven (79%) patients in Group 1 thought their knee was "normal" or "improved," and 25 (93%) in Group 2 thought the same. In addition, 10 (71%) patients in Group 1 denied any "giving way," compared to 26 (96%) in Group 2. The mean Lysholm knee score in Group 1 was 86/100 (range, 22 to 100) compared to 92/100 (range, 59 to 100). Clinical examination included the Lachman test and tests for anterior drawer sign and pivot shift. Postoperatively, Group 1 patients had the following results: Lachman test--seven Grade 0, six Grade 1, one Grade 2; anterior drawer sign--eight Grade 0, five Grade 1, one Grade 2; and pivot shift--seven Grade 0, five "trace," and two "present."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Indelicato
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Department of Orthopaedics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
Bittar
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Prevot
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Woods
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Branch
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Huegel
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D010329:Patella; D012086:Reoperation; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous