[The primary cruciate ligament suture--is the method outdated? Results in follow-up of 58 patients]

In the present study 58 out of 105 patients, who had been operated on for anterior cruciate ligament rupture from 1980-1992 by the same experienced surgeon, were followed up clinically and by X-ray examination. Most of them were sports accidents, above all skiing and soccer. In 11 patients an isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament was found, the remaining 47 had sustained additional injuries (mainly the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus). In 52 cases the operation was performed with primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament. For chronic instability 4 patients (7%) had to be treated with secondary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In the follow-up study 60% of all patients achieved a Lysholm-score of 95-100 points, 19% of 84-94 points. The remaining 21% achieved less than 84 points. In the side to side comparison the Lachman Test was equal or showed a slightly diminished stability of the operated knee in 91% of 54 patients without secondary reconstruction. The anterior stability with 90 degrees flexed knee in neutral position was within a similar scope, the anterior medial stability was a little worse. In 48% of all patients we found radiological signs of osteoarthritis (stage II and III according to the classification of Jäger and Wirth).