EARLY VERSUS LATE RECONSTRUCTION FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE - RESULTS AFTER 5 YEARS OF FOLLOW-UP

We investigated the clinical and laxity testing results at 5 years' fo llowup in patients who had early or late anterior cruciate ligament re construction. Twenty-three patients (Group I) were treated within 15 d ays of injury. Fifty-nine patients (Group II) were treated more than 3 months after injury. Patellar tendon reconstruction and fascia lata g raft augmented with a ligament augmentation device were the techniques used in both groups. According to the International Knee Documentatio n Committee rating scale, 17 patients in Group I and 38 patients in Gr oup II had satisfactory results. The Lysholm score was good in all Gro up I patients and in 55 Group II patients. Flexion-extension deficits were comparable for both groups. Eighteen patients (78%) in Group I de monstrated satisfactory results according to the KT-2000 arthrometer t esting, 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 spo rts activities sooner and had better clinical and laxity testing resul ts.