Isolated tear of the anterior cruciate ligament: 5-year follow-up study

Abstract

During the period 1967 to 1971, 64 cadets at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, had surgical repair for isolated tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. In a 5-year follow-up study to determine the functional impairment, present disability, and reinjury to the knee, 32 of the 64 patients were located and evaluated by radiographic examination and either by interview or by questionnaire. Twenty-two were commissioned to full duty. 23 had attended ranger or airborne school, and 16 had been in combat. Impairment of ordinary activities was noted by 12 and impairment of athletic endeavors by 24; pain by 71%; swelling by 66%; stiffness by 71%; and instability by 94%. Seventeen of the 32 had had a significant reinjury after the repair of the anterior cruciate ligament. Clinically, we can diagnose the isolated tear of the anterior cruciate ligament by four essential ingredients--a pop at time of injury, inability to continue participation, gross swelling of knee, and maximal swelling within 12 hr. The mechanism of injury is usually deceleration and change of direction, not contact with another player. The follow-up study on this small series indicates that the patients have progressive deterioration of the knee.

Healing of the Goat Anterior Cruciate Ligament After a New Suture Repair Technique and Bioscaffold Treatment

“…The reported success rates after suture repair of the ACL varied between 0% and 60%. [1][2][3] Due to this inconsistent outcome, suture repair was abandoned in favor of ACL reconstruction with tendon grafts. In retrospect, these low success rates could be attributed to the previously used suture techniques.…”

Knee mechanics after repair of the anterior cruciate ligament A cadaver study of ligament augmentation

“…Although short-term studies of acute repair of anterior cruciate ligament ruptures report promising results, long-term results have indicated decreasing knee stability and function with time (Balkfors 1982, Feagin and Curl 1976, Odensten et al 1984, Sandberg 1987. Augmentation methods have been suggested as a possible solution (Bilko et al 1986, Schabus 1988).…”

Results with primary repair of the avulsed anterior cruciate ligament and internal fiber ligament augmentation

“…The research concerning its inherent healing and surgical repair dates back to the late 19th century [1][2][3][4][5] . ACL repair was first performed over a century ago, but reconstruction has overwhelmingly been the surgery of choice for operative ACL ruptures since the 1970s [1][2][3][4][5] . Mayo-Robson [6] , performed the first successful ACL repair on a coal miner in 1895.…”