Eighteen- to Twenty-four-Year Follow-up After Complete Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Abstract

A unilateral, complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament was diagnosed in 60 consecutive patients by arthroscopy within 1 week of trauma. Most ruptured ligaments were treated by acute nonaugmented repair immediately after the arthroscopy. Fifty-five and 56 patients were reevaluated after 12 years and 20 years, respectively. Twenty-five patients (45%) had at least one reoperation during the follow-up period of 20 years, primarily for meniscal problems. Seven patients (13%) had repeat anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The overall Lysholm knee function score remained at a median of 90 points from 12 to 20 years, but patients had decreased their sporting activities from team sports at full rehabilitation to physical fitness activities at the late follow-up. Patients who had repeat surgery had a worse knee function score, were less satisfied with their knees, and also had to change activities and change work more often than patients without reoperation. The majority of patients had, at both follow-up periods, unstable knees. At 20 years, weightbearing radiographs showed slight-to-moderate changes equivalent to osteoarthrosis in 84% (47) of patients and a 32% increase in osteoarthrosis since the 12-year evaluation.

Insufficient recovery of neuromuscular activity around the knee after experimental anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

“…The long-term adaptation is not successful, neither in stable, reconstructed knees nor in chronic unstable knees, after failed reconstruction or with no reconstruction. This is in accordance with clinical data from subjective and quantitative functional assessment (Fremerey et al 2000, Bonfim et al 2003) of longterm follow-up in ACL injured knees (Maletius and Messner 1999).…”

Cruciate ligament integrity in osteoarthritis of the knee

“…This high prevalence makes it impossible to determine the combined versus the individual effects of ACL tears and meniscal tears on OA outcomes. Indeed, many of these meniscal tears probably occurred months to years after the original ACL injury (27,28). We have also previously reported that in this sample, meniscal tears have no association with OA pain severity (29).…”

Effect of gender on lower extremity kinematics during rapid direction changes: An integrated analysis of three sports movements

“…The current study made statistical comparisons of 24 hip (9). knee (9) and ankle (6) dependent measures, between both genders (2) and movements (3). A power analysis revealed that to achieve 80% statistical power in the current study with an exploratory alpha level of 0.05, a minimum of eight subjects per group (male and female) were required.…”