ARTHROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT - INITIAL CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE AND MINIMAL 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP COMPARING ENDOSCOPIC TRANSTIBIAL AND 2-INCISION TECHNIQUES

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of endoscopic A nterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction and assess whether this technique modification offers any significant advantages over arthros copically assisted reconstruction. A consecutive series of 90 athletic ally-active patients (67 males, 23 females) who underwent reconstructi on for ACL deficiency using a patellar tendon autograft was retrospect ively reviewed. The study group consisted of two treatment subgroups: Group 1-EA (Endoscopic-Assisted technique using no lateral femoral con dylar incision) consisted of 45 patients with a mean age of 25 years ( range 15 to 43) and Group 2-AA (Arthroscopic-Assisted technique using both anterior and lateral femoral condylar incisions) consisted of 45 patients with a mean age of 25 years (range 16 to 37). The study group s were evaluated at specific postoperative intervals with a mean follo w-up in Group 1-EA of 30 months (range 24-37) and in Group 2-AA, 41 mo nths (range 24 to 77). Serial KT-1000 results averaged 2 mm in both gr oups with 75% of Group 1-EA and 78% in Group 2-AA patients noted to ha ve less than or equal to 3 mm side-to-side differences. No statistical ly significant differences were noted for complications including pate llofemoral pain, arthrofibrosis, harvest site pathology, or painful ha rdware. At ultimate follow-up however, this study suggests that both m ethods may result in similar and reproducible satisfactory outcome.