5-YEAR RESULTS OF CONSERVATIVELY TREATED TEARS OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT

Follow-up examinations of 35 patients with an arthroscopically confirm ed isolated fresh tear of the anterior cruciate ligament were conducte d after an average period of 5 years. After arthroscopy and immobiliza tion of the knee in a plaster cast for 2 weeks, all 35 patients had be en conservatively treated with neurophysiological physical therapy. Tw enty-four of tile tears were complete; the remaining 11 were partial. The results of the follow-up examination are based on subjective score s (O'Donoghue score, Lysholm score), an objective score (objective O'D onoghue score) and clinical examination. With the partial tears, good to satisfactory results were achieved, and surgery was needed less oft en. in these patients, it was largely possible to maintain the origina l level of athletic performance. Those patients with complete, isolate d tears generally had satisfactory to poor results on the objective sc ores. There was a high rate of revision surgery, especially in the cas e of meniscus tears, and they were largely unable to regain their orig inal level of athletic performance.