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Multicenter-study of operative treatment of intraligamentous tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in children and adolescents

Comparison of four different techniques

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in skeletally immature patients were operated with four different methods and their outcome compared to each other. Sixty-eight patients (33 males, 35 females), mean 12.5 years, were treated in four different centers from 1984 to 2001. Twenty-eight patients underwent the ACL-reconstruction with hamstring grafts, 16 patients with bone–patella–bone autografts, 12 patients with quadriceps grafts and 12 patients with facia lata. The mean follow-up was 32 months. Postoperative evaluation included radiographs, KT-1000/2000 stability measurements, Lysholm score, The Tegner activity scale and IKDC score. Neither leg length discrepancy nor angular deformities were noted. Mean KT-1000 difference was 2.1 mm, mean postoperative Lysholm knee score 93.3, IKDC 87% normal or nearly normal. The Tegner index decreased from 6.6 to 5.7. In total, six patients developed instability due to an adequate trauma 1 year after the index operation. Two patients showed mild arthrotic changes. All but two patients were able to return to the same level of preoperative sports participation. None of the four methods studied showed major differences in outcome compared to the other. No growth disturbance could be noted.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the ESSKA and presented at the 10th ESSKA Congress in Rome, on 25 April 2002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Bruderholz, 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland

    F. Gebhard & N. F. Friederich

  2. Arcus Sportsclinic, Pforzheim, Germany

    A. Ellermann

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosenheim, Germany

    F. Hoffmann

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University-Hospital, Strasbourg, France

    J.-H. Jaeger

Authors
  1. F. Gebhard
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  2. A. Ellermann
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  3. F. Hoffmann
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  4. J.-H. Jaeger
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  5. N. F. Friederich
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Correspondence to N. F. Friederich.

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Gebhard, F., Ellermann, A., Hoffmann, F. et al. Multicenter-study of operative treatment of intraligamentous tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in children and adolescents. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthr 14, 797–803 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0055-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0055-4

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