Clinical results of computer-navigated anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions

Growing participation in sports activities over recent years has increased the number of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) injuries. Thus, more surgeons became active in this field, leading to a high incidence of transplant failure. In the past 2 1/2 years, 235 patients were treated through navigated ACL reconstruction with semitendinosus-gracilis tendon (STG) autograft. One hundred patients who returned for the follow-up examinations were evaluated. In all cases without concurring injuries, the clinical outcome was excellent or very good. Postoperative radiological examination showed correct positioning of the EndoButton (Smith and Nephew, Mansfield, Mass.) and the Suture Plate (B. Braun-Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) in all patients. The subjective and objective stability assessment did not show any significant difference to the uninjured opposite side.