The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 70, Issue 5 715-723, Copyright © 1988 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using a torn meniscus
RD Ferkel, JM Fox, W Del Pizzo, MJ Friedman, SJ Snyder, F Dorey and D Kasimian
Center for Disorders of the Knee, Van Nuys, California.
In eighty of 100 patients, reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament
using a torn meniscus was successful in restoring stability. The length of
follow-up ranged from two to six years and the mean interval from injury to
operation was two years. Preoperatively, all but one patient had a positive
(2+ or 3+) Lachman test and a positive pivot-shift test. Only ten patients
had evidence of major instability, as seen on either test. The result was
the same regardless of whether the patient had had a concomitant
extra-articular (Ellison) procedure. The results of arthroscopic biopsy in
eleven patients did not support the hypothesis that the meniscus underwent
metaplasia to ligamentous tissue. Although this procedure yielded results
similar to those of other procedures in which autogenous tissues are used
to reconstruct the ligament, the meniscus should rarely, if ever, be used
for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. The procedure is
indicated only for patients who, in addition to needing reconstruction of
the anterior cruciate ligament, also have a torn meniscus that would
otherwise have to be totally excised.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Technorati What's this?
