RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS WITH ALLOGRAFTS - TECHNIQUES, RESULTS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

The authors have used allografts for reconstruction of the cruciate li gaments in over 600 cases since 1985. Advantages are the reduced opera tive trauma and the unlimited availability of high-quality grafts even in multiple ligament reconstructions. Arthroscopic techniques are ava ilable for reconstruction of the anterior and the posterior cruciate l igament, which makes arthrotomies and large skin incisions unnecessary . The grafts of choice are the bone-patellar tendon-bone preparation a nd the Achilles tendon with bone bloc. No specific complications were observed with the use of allograft material in this series. Results sh ow a high subjective acceptance of the procedure among the patients, w ith a high rate of return to pre-injury sports activities following AC L reconstruction. Objective stability was restored in over 70 % of the se cases. All cases with posterior instability had 3 + posterior drawe rs preoperatively. At follow-up, almost normal stability had been rest ored in 50 %. Further research must focus on the biological processes that take place during incorporation of these tissues and on better te chniques of graft processing and sterilisation. At present, the risk o f disease transmission must be considered and discussed with the patie nt.