Five-year results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the Stryker Dacron high-strength ligament

Abstract

Forty-two consecutive patients (27 male and 15 female, with a mean age of 26 years) suffering from uniflateral chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency underwent surgical reconstruction with a Dacron highstrength ligament (Stryker). In 32 patients the synthetic legament was used as a reinforcement in an iliotibial band intra-articular procedure and in 10 patients as an intra-articular prosthesis without biological reinforcement. There were 24 concomitant injuries such as meniscal tears, status post—meniscectomy or medial collateral ligament insufficiency at the time of reconstruction. The initial injury occurred during soccer in 23 patients and other pivoting sports in 16 patients. Two and 5 years after reconstruction, the patients underwent clinical examination, including the instrumented knee laxity test (OSI), and performed subjective evaluation. The anterior tibial translation was 6.3±2.6mm grater than in the healthy knee, the mean Lysholm score was 78 points, and the Tegner activity score was lower than its pre-injury level. Radiography revealed that 31 of 37 ligaments had ruptured and another 2 ligaments showed more than 5 mm side-to-side increased laxity. The Stryker Dacron high-strength ligament ruptured in more than 80% of the cases and patients could not return to their pre-injury physical performance activities.