title: Arthrometric results of arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autograft patellar tendon substitution.
abstract: Sixty-two patients who underwent arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the middle-third patellar tendon autograft without extraarticular augmentation were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum 2-year (mean, 37-month) followup. A postoperative KT-1000 arthrometric evaluation revealed a mean maximum manual difference of 0.3 mm (range, -6 to +16). Ninety percent of the patients had a mean maximum difference of < or = 3 mm. Three patients had a > or = 5 mm mean maximum difference; positive pivot shifts were noted in two of these patients. Despite an early range of motion, early weightbearing protocol without an extraarticular backup, the pivot shift (92% negative) was reliably eliminated at postoperative followup. Arthrometric parameters were statistically reduced (P < 0.0001) from preoperative status and were consistent with the diagnostic criteria established for normal knees. There was no relationship established in the "tighter" knees (those with negative side-to-side arthrometric differences) and the incidence of knee flexion contractures, patellar pain symptoms, Cybex extension deficit (> 20%), functional indices, or postoperative rating scales.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luergans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000637:transplantation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016474:Weight-Bearing