A PROSPECTIVE, CLINICAL-STUDY EVALUATING ARTHROSCOPIC ACL RECONSTRUCTION USING THE SEMITENDINOSUS AND ILIOTIBIAL BAND - 2-YEAR TO 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Seventy-three ACL-deficient knees were reconstructed using a modified Zarins and Rowe arthroscopic procedure utilizing the semitendinosus te ndon and iliotibial band (ITB). Fifty of 73 patients returned for 2- t o 5-year follow up. On follow-up visit each patient completed a questi onnaire pertaining to subjective results, including level of pain and return to activities. Physical examination included the Lachman test, anterior drawer, pivot shift, and anterior subluxation tests (using th e Stryker KT 1000), each graded 0 to 3. ALl patients have shown a stat istically significant improvement between preoperative and postoperati ve knee scores (P < .0001). According to the knee scoring scale, 34 pa tients (68%) were clinically rated as excellent, 12(24%) as good, 4(8% ) as fair, with no poor results. All patients have returned to pre-inj ury jobs (or school), while most resumed some level of sporting activi ties. No patients complained of patella femoral symptoms postoperative ly. Complications included pain over the staple which was used for fix ing the ITB to the tibia, requiring removal in 5 patients. These preli minary results are encouraging, with 92% of the patients rating good t o excellent. This modified procedure offers advantages over other proc edures, as it is entirely arthroscopic with minimal incisions, does no t damage the extensor mechanism, and permits an enhanced rehabilitatio n program.