THE MACINTOSH LATERAL SUBSTITUTION RECONSTRUCTION FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE DEFICIENCY

Twenty-five patients who had anterior cruciate deficient knees treated by the MacIntosh reconstruction operation were reviewed after 5 years , with particular reference to any changes occurring over time. Subjec tively, the knees were improved and the results were even better after 5 years than after one year. This was considered to be due to a decre ase in the restriction of flexion, and to the psychological and functi onal adaptation to the injured knee. In the knees operated on, the ant ero-lateral instability increased significantly during the follow up f rom one year (mean 1.9 mm) to 5 years (3.0 mm), but the numerical valu e was still as good as in the intact knees (3.5 mm).