[Surgical treatment of anterior cruciate ligament.]

The authors evaluate a group of 57 patients with rupture of the anterior cruciatee ligament (ACL). The first group is formed by 23 patients where the acute ACL rupture was treated by suture. The second group comprises 35 patients with a confirmed untreated complete ACL lesion. For comparison Lysholm's score was used; anteroposterior instability was assessed objectively by a KT apparatus. The authors investigated the range of movements of the knee joint. The mean value of Lysholm's score in the first group was 84 points, in the second group 80.7 points. The mean shift of the tibia in relation to the femur was 11.2 mm in patients after suture of the ligament and 12 mm in patients with an untreated ligament. In four patients of the first group a significantly restricted range of flexion of the knee joint persists. Based on these results and data in the literature the authors abondoned suture of the ACL and resolved instability in indicated cases by replacement of the ACL. Key words: anterior cruciate ligament, suture of ACL.