Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the results of arthroscopic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the remnant-preserving technique and evaluate its clinical significance. A total of ACL injuries in 147 patients confirmed by arthroscopy, including partial disruption of ACL in 45 cases, complete disruption of ACL in 66 cases and laxity of ligament in 36 cases were included in this study. Injured bundle branches and lax ligaments were retained while ACL Ligament remnants with complete disruption were not removed. Single bundle ACL reconstruction was performed using quadrupled hamstring tendon autograft. The tendons were fixed with the Rigidfix system at the femur and with the Intrafix system at the tibia.  The mean follow up was 19 months (12 to 24 months), during which the stability of knee joint was significantly increased. Lysholm knee joint function score increased from preoperative 68.6 to postoperative 94.9. Lachman test was negative in 43 cases, slightly positive in 3 cases and positive in one case. Referring to Insall’s evaluation criterion on knee joint, the curative effects of knee joint were excellent in 38 cases and good in 9 cases, respectively. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction preserving the remnants aids revascularization of the tendon transplant and recovery of proprioceptive sense, as well as the stability maintaining of knee joint.

Key words: Anterior cruciate ligament, arthroscopy, reconstruction.