Clinical and sonographic changes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with lig. patellae

In a retrospective study we examined the clinical and sonographic changes a fter anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with lig. patellae. 51 patie nts were evaluated clinically and sonografically after arthroscopically ass isted ACL-reconstruction with a bone-patella tendon 3-6 years (mean 4,3 yea rs) postoperatively. Certainly 18 patients (35%) reported about an anterior knee pain, but only 2 patients (4%) complained about pain during activitie s of daily living and 3 patients (6%) about pain during slight sports activ ities. Retropatellar crepitations was found in 24 patients (47%) on the ope rated side and at 11 patients (22%) on the non operated side. Twenty nine p atients (57%) complained about a discomfort or pain when kneeling on the op erated side. In 13 patients (26%) sonography showed a shortening of the pat ella ligament by 4 mm or more. Only few patients are strongly limited in th eir activity by the anterior knee pain. Neither our results nor the literat ure give evidence, that the tendon defect is the underlying cause of this p ain syndrome. However, the number of patients with pain during kneeling on the operated side was relatively high. The semitendinosus gracilis graft sh ould be considered for patients who have to knee during working or recreati onal activities.