title: INFLUENCE OF ANTERIOR PAIN ON RESULTS FROM ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of residual pain on functional outcomes two years after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and compare the types of graft used during the procedure (patellar vs. flexor).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective epidemiological study on 129 ACL reconstructions with a mean follow-up of 28 months was conducted. The presence, intensity and location of the anterior pain were investigated. Pain provocation tests were conducted, sensitivity was analyzed and functional scores were applied (IKDC, femoropatellar and SF-36), comparing the results with the type of graft used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anterior pain was present in 28% of patients with a mean intensity of 2.9 in 10. When pain was present, the functional scores decreased significantly. Abnormalities of knee sensitivity and gait occurred frequently with use of the patellar tendon, but there was no statistical difference regarding the presence of pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of anterior pain in ACL reconstructions, even if minimal, has a deleterious effect on the final outcome over the medium term. Because of the influence of graft harvesting on the presence of abnormalities of knee sensitivity and gait, choosing the graft should take into account the patient's professional and sports activities.
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Knee Group, Hospital São Rafael, Salvador, Bahia. Fellow at the West Lyon Orthopedics and Traumatology Surgery Center, Lyon, France (COROLYON).
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in the Orthopedics Service, Hospital São Rafael, Salvador, Bahia.
authors.forename: Claudinei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Head of the Orthopedics Service, Hospital São Rafael, Salvador, Bahia.
authors.forename: Antonio Marcos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferracini
authors.affiliation: Assistant Head of Clinical Medicine, West Lyon Orthopedics and Traumatology Surgery Center, Lyon, France (COROLYON).
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dejour
keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Pain; Patellar Ligament