LONG-TERM RESULTS OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION WITH ADACRON PROSTHESIS - THE FREQUENCY OF OSTEOARTHRITIS AFTER 7 TO 11 YEARS

In this prospective study we investigated 70 patients with chronic ant erior instability who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruct ion with a Dacron prosthesis. Fifty-five (79%) patients could be follo wed up at a mean of 9 years. Within the follow-up time, 44% (29 of 66) of the prostheses were diagnosed as ruptured; the annual rupture freq uency was 5%. Second reconstructions were performed for 20 patients (2 9%), 5 patients had third reconstructions, and 9 patients wanted no fu rther surgical treatment. Fifty-two patients (74% of the original grou p) underwent radiographic examination. Eighty-three percent (43) of th ese patients had radiographic changes in the operated knee, and 40% (2 1 of 52) had joint space reduction up to 50%. The rate of radiographic ally detected osteoarthitis was increased 10 times compared with the n ormal knee. Patients with medial instability and patients older than 3 0 years at the initial operation had more severe osteoarthritic change s. Based on the functional results of the patients with a ligament in place after 9 years, only 14% (10) of the original group had acceptabl e stability and knee function.