Abstract
We studied the efficacy of arthroscopic ACL repair for femoral avulsion of the ligament in ten patients (18 to 32 years of age). The tibial attachment and the midsub-stance of the ligaments were intact. We placed 2 mattress sutures with #2 fiberwire. The footprint of the ACL on the medial wall was decorticated and a guide drill was passed from inside-out followed by an endobutton reamer. The sutures were retrieved through the femoral tunnel using a small skin incision and tied over a button in full extension.
The rehabilitation included weightbearing with a hinged knee brace in extension, and CPM machine for the first month. The minimum follow-up was one year (mean 14 months). Lachman, Pivot shift, drawer tests, KT-1000 were documented. At 1 year all patients were stable. Sixty percent tested symmetric on KT-1000 and within 2 mm of the controlateral site. Forty percent had Lachman and anterior drawer within 1 grade and KT-1000 scores of > 4mm from the non-injured knee. None of the patients had a positive pivot shift. Our short-term data on arthroscopic ACL repair of a specific tear pattern are encouraging despite the negative outcome of open repair reported in the literature.
Correspondence should be addressed to Ariella Neustadt at Studio EGA, Professional Congress Organisers, Viale Tiziano, 19 - 00196, Rome - Italy.
