title: Early versus late reconstruction for anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Results after five years of followup.
abstract: We investigated the clinical and laxity testing results at 5 years' followup in patients who had early or late anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Twenty-three patients (Group I) were treated within 15 days of injury. Fifty-nine patients (Group II) were treated more than 3 months after injury. Patellar tendon reconstruction and fascia lata graft augmented with a ligament augmentation device were the techniques used in both groups. According to the International Knee Documentation Committee rating scale, 17 patients in Group I and 38 patients in Group II had satisfactory results. The Lysholm score was good in all Group I patients and in 55 Group II patients. Flexion-extension deficits were comparable for both groups. Eighteen patients (78%) in Group I demonstrated satisfactory results according to the KT-2000 arthrometer testing, compared with 44 (75%) in Group II. No associated lesions were present in 12 (52%) cases in Group I, compared with 26 (44%) cases in Group II. Return to sports at the preoperative level was obtained by 21 (91%) patients in Group I, compared with 42 (71%) in Group II. The patients who had reconstruction during the early phase returned to sports activities sooner and had better clinical and laxity testing results.
authors.affiliation: Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna University, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcacci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaffagnini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petitto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000637:transplantation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012421:Rupture; D013177:Sports; D013997:Time Factors