Remarks on the complications following ACL reconstruction using synthetic ligaments

The authors analyse the method used between 1983 and 1990 in 161 patients with chronic anterior laxity of the knee treated by 162 ligament reconstructions utilizing synthetic ligament prostheses. Tearing of the prosthetic ligament is the most feared and frequent complication. This may be due to technical error, wear of the material or, to a lesser extent, new trauma. With a follow-up of up to 80 months, the number of tears seems excessively high. This means that artificial ligaments cannot today be considered a satisfactory surgical technique. The considerable technical improvements in autologous reconstructive surgery make the biological approach preferable even today.