Mg. Siegel et Sd. Barberwestin, ARTHROSCOPIC-ASSISTED OUTPATIENT ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION USING THE SEMITENDINOSUS AND GRACILIS TENDONS, Arthroscopy, 14(3), 1998, pp. 268-277
This study presents an average of 43-month results (range, 23 to 75 mo
nths) of 82 arthroscopically assisted, outpatient semitendinosus-graci
lis anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions evaluated with the Cinc
innati Knee Rating System. There were 44 acute and 38 chronic injuries
. The results showed no significant effect of injury chronicity on all
outcome variables except knee motion complications. Additionally, no
significant difference was found between men and women in regards to o
utcome. At follow-up, 93% showed complete or partial graft function, 9
8% had a full range of knee motion, 83% had returned to sports with no
problems, and 92% rated their knee condition as normal or very good.
The mean overall point score (0 to 100 scale) for all patients was 92
+/- 10 points. All patients with chronic injuries showed improvement f
rom their preoperative status, including II who had articular cartilag
e lesions. Complications were few; only five patients (6%) needed addi
tional treatment for limitation of knee motion, and no patient had an
increase in patellofemoral crepitus. We concluded that this procedure
produced desirable results and that patients with long-standing functi
onal limitations significantly improved and were able to return to an
active lifestyle.