S. Asahina et al., EFFECTS OF KNEE FLEXION ANGLE AT GRAFT FIXATION ON THE OUTCOME OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION, Arthroscopy, 12(1), 1996, pp. 70-75
Clinical outcome in 44 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligame
nt (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring tendons augmented by the ligame
nt augmentation device for chronic ACL deficiency was studied; average
follow-up was 38 months (range, 24 to 52 months). In 19 patients, gra
fts were fixed with the knees at full extension (group 1), whereas in
25 patients, the grafts were fixed with the knees at 30 degrees of fle
xion (group 2). The results of subjective testing (Lysholm score), the
Lachman test, the pivot-shift test, muscle strength testing, angle of
extension loss, and follow-up arthroscopy were compared to assess the
effects of flexion angle at fixation on stability and function. The r
ange of motion in group 1 was significantly better than that in group
2. The stability of the knees and the arthroscopic appearance of the g
rafts in group 1 were, however, significantly worse than those in Grou
p 2.