[Does partial anterior cruciate ligament rupture really exist?]

From 1983 to 1989 129 partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament were diagnosed by arthroscopy. To confirm the diagnosis of a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, we began to split the synovial sheath of the anterior cruciate ligament in 1986 in order to prove the continuity of the fibers. Applying this technique, we quite often found the anterior cruciate ligament completely torn. Hence the rate of partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament decreased from about 10% of all anterior cruciate ligament ruptures 1983 to about 3% 1989. 42 patients whose diagnosis had been a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament were reviewed clinically to determine whether the anterior cruciate ligament injury had finally proved to be an insignificant lesion or had caused a knee instability. The overall results were very good in 12% and good in 14%; 41% showed a fair, 26% a poor result. Because of this unfavourable outcome, we believe that most of the partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament should be regarded as complete ruptures.