title: Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using allograft tendon.
abstract: Treatment of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee using an arthroscopic technique and freeze-dried allograft tendons in 23 patients was studied prospectively. Accurate placement of drill holes and anchoring positions for the allografts was effected through a standard arthroscopic approach combined with a 3 cm incision on the medial tibial flare. Candidates for reconstruction were those who were unable to tolerate brace therapy and who had no degenerative arthritis. The 23 patients were drawn from a group of 60 treated patients because their follow-up had been greater than or equal to 1 year. Their knees were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively with a Lysholm knee rating scale, Lachman test with KT-1000 arthrometric quantitation, pivot shift, Biodex test, and radiographs. Knee rating values improved in all knees, and only one patient had a significant deterioration in the KT-1000 reading. All patients with at least 20 months follow-up have resumed their preinjury activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wainer
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Poehling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*