Treatment of fresh tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. A comparison of primary suture and augmentation with carbon fibre.
Early results after a follow-up of 1 year of primary suture and carbon fibre augmentation in the treatment of fresh anterior cruciate ligament tears in 57 consecutive and randomized patients are presented. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the postoperative course. At an average of 13 months follow-up, complete stability was achieved regarding the pivot shift sign in 16 (55 per cent) and 18 (75 per cent) of the sutured and augmented groups respectively. There were 3/29 obvious pivot shifts in the sutured and 1/24 in the augmented knees. Seventeen carbon fibre reinforced knees were postoperatively arthroscoped at the 1-year follow-up. A structure resembling a 'neoligament' was observed in 8/16 knees. In 11 knees there were no signs of carbon material, in 4 knees subsynovial microparticles were scattered around the anterior compartment and in 3 knees the carbon fibre tow was bare in the joint despite careful covering within the ligament remnants at the time of the operation. Although no statistical difference was obtained between the two groups the augmentation procedure seemed to improve stability at the 1-year follow-up.
Harilainen
A
A
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Myllynen
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002244:Carbon / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013536:Suture Techniques
D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002244:Carbon