Distal iliotibial-band transfer for anterolateral rotatory instability of the knee

An operative procedure has been developed to prevent anterior subluxation of the proximal end of the tibia in patients with anterolateral rotatory instability of the knee. The results of this procedure in eighteen consecutive patients are reported. Ten (55.6 per cent) had had prior surgery on the involved knee. All patients had an additional pathological lesion and all were incapacitated for their sports prior to reconstruction. The shortest follow-up in this series was thirty-one months and the longest, forty-four months. Forty-four per cent had an excellent result, participating in sports without signs or symptoms, and 39 per cent had a good result, participating but with some modest problem. In 17 per cent the results were unsatisfactory.