Clinical evaluation of bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts for anterior cruciate ligament injury*
One thousand and thirty-eight cases of ACL rupture were treated between January 2002 and November 2010. Eight hundred sixty-six cases (83.9%) were observed for at least six months. All cases were reconstructed with a BTB graft from the patella. Much effort was made to return the patient to a competitive sports activity level within one year. The age at suffering from the initial injury ranged from 9 to 74 years old with a mean of 24.7 years old. There were 493 female (50.7% ) and 427 male (49.3% ) cases. The injured side was right in 408 cases and left in 458 cases. The mean postoperative observation period was 449.2 days. The number of patients who felt 80% or more certain that they could return to competitive sports activities was 538 (61.9%). From the MRI findings, continuity of the reconstructed graft was observed in 793 cases (98.5%). Arthroscopy after reconstruction was performed in 775 cases (89.5%). The reconstructed ACL was observed to be covered with an adequate synovium in 629 cases (81.2%). The medial meniscus and lateral meniscus showed no changes in 657 cases (84.8%) and 666 cases (85.9%) respectively. Reconstructions performed less than two weeks after injury showed no significant differences in terms of ROM, arthroscopic findings, or the number of patients who could return to competitive sports activities. Statistically significantly more patients who underwent their reconstruction at an age over forty experienced a loss motion of five degree in extension or ten degree in flexion and resumed a lower level of sports activities. Patients who underwent the reconstruction could return to exercises for muscle strengthening and ROMs within 2 weeks. Patients over forty years old who underwent their reconstruction could prevent their menisci from fraying, tearing, or undergoing osteoarthritic changes. (Accepted on August 25, 2011)
