[Isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Clinical and experimental study (author's transl)]

The isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is possible. 5 own cases are described and compared with those of other authors. The mechanism of the injury is a forced inward rotation- and varus-stress of the knee joint under full pressure as a deceleration-twisting motion. Our own experimental measuremens on the ligaments of hte knee joint with strain gauges are proving this fact. The suspeced diagnosis of an isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is strengthened by a painful snapping or popping within the knee joint in the moment of the injury, a fast increasing swelling of the joint and a feeling of instability. Normaly an anterior dawer sign is not found. The treatment of choice is the suture of the ligament because unrepaired isolated anterior cruciate ligaments can lead to an increasing instability of the knee joint with time.