[Arthroscopy or arthrotomy in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autogenous bone-tendon-bone-graft]

The authors reviewed early clinical results in two groups of patients treated by arthroscopy-assisted (group I) and miniarthrotomy (group II) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. An autogenous midthird patellar tendon was used in all cases. Both groups were similar in regard to age, sex and type of injury; the same postoperative rehabilitative protocol was used. The data collected included total surgery time, blood loss, pain medication use, length of hospital stay, Lachman test results at 2, 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively; pivot shift test supplemented Lachman test at 6 months follow-up. Two statistically significant differences were found only: the blood loss was smaller in group I and surgery time was shorter in group II. Range of motion was better in group I only initially; at three months follow-up no differences were noted. The study results suggest that both open and arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction with midthird patellar tendon graft yield similar early clinical results.