ARTHROSCOPIC-ASSISTED ALLOGRAFT ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMATIC ARTHROSIS

We reviewed the results of arthroscopic-assisted anterior cruciate lig ament (ACL) allograft reconstructions in 40 patients who had advanced articular cartilage deterioration documented by arthroscopy during the reconstruction. A mean of 7 years had elapsed between the original in jury and the reconstruction, and 102 prior operative procedures had be en done in 34 of the 40 patients. A total of 64 articular cartilage le sions were noted; 34 knees had lesions in the medial or lateral tibiof emoral compartment. Postoperatively, all had immediate motion and earl y functional rehabilitation. The results were assessed using the Cinci nnati Knee Rating System, At follow-up (mean, 37 months), significant improvements were found for pain, giving-way, and functional limitatio ns with daily and sports activities (P < .01). Fifty-five percent had returned to mostly light athletics (avoiding high impact sports) based on our advice and were asymptomatic. The mean overall rating scores s ignificantly improved (P < .0001, mean improvement 22 points). We conc luded that the majority of patients in this study with chronic ACL rup ture and post-traumatic arthrosis benefited short-term from athroscopi c-assisted ACL reconstruction.