title: Infections in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a safe, common, and effective method of restoring stability to the knee after injury, but evolving techniques of reconstruction carry inherent risk. Infection after ACL reconstruction, while rare, carries a high morbidity, potentially resulting in a poor clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from previously published peer-reviewed literature through a search of the entire PubMed database (up to December 2012) as well as from textbook chapters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with culture-specific antibiotics and debridement with graft retention is recommended as initial treatment, but with persistent infection, consideration should be given to graft removal. Graft type likely has no effect on infection rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early diagnosis of infection and appropriate treatment are necessary to avoid the complications of articular cartilage damage and arthrofibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Charlton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stucken
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Garras
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shaner
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cohen
keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; graft type; infection