Post-operative problems following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Seventy adult patients were studied during the postoperative rehabilitation period following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in order to investigate the role of pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors in range of motion and graft problems. A standard bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft was used for the reconstruction. Pre- and intraoperative factors such as concomitant injuries, time from injury to surgery, age, sex, and tunnel placement were recorded. Tunnel placement was recorded on intraoperative radiographs of the final guide pin placement and compared to pin placement on cadaver knees. The results indicated a significant relation between early reconstruction (< 1 month) following the injury and range of motion problems during the early rehabilitation period (P < 0.001). This relation disappeared by the end of the first postoperative year. Prolonged surgery was also associated with early motion problems (P < 0.05). Graft laxity or failure was correlated with an earlier return of range of motion (P < 0.05). We hypothesized that graft failure can have a biologic cause rather than a mechanical one since intraoperative X-rays indicated a near-anatomic tunnel placement in this patient group when compared to ideal placement in the cadaver knees.