FRESH-FROZEN ALLOGRAFT RECONSTRUCTION IN CHRONIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INSUFFICIENCY: SHORT-TERM RESULTS IN 17 PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with fresh-frozen non-irradiated tendon allografts in chronic ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) insufficiency by using objective and subjective evaluation methods.
Patients and methods: A prospective study was performed on 17 patients that underwent an arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts were used as an ACL substitute. The average age and follow-up period was 28.3 years and 29.3 months respectively. At the final evaluation, Lysholm and IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) scoring systems and Tegner activity scale were used to assess the status of the patients in addition to instrumented laxity testing. Paired t test and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare the preoperative and postoperative KT-1000 measurements and Tegner activity scale and the significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Preoperative and postoperative mean side-to-side difference in KT-1000 evaluation was 5.8 ± 2.0 mm and 2.9 ± 2.8 mm respectively (p<0.05). Postoperative mean Lysholm score was 92.7 (range, 71 to 100) and 94% of the patients were in normal or near normal group according to IKDC scoring system. The mean Tegner activity score was increased up to 6.4 ± 1.3 postoperatively (preoperatively was 3.9 ± 2.3, p<0.05).
Discussion: Allografts restored the knee stability and activity of the patients. We believe that ACL reconstructions with fresh-frozen non-irradiated tendon allografts are low-morbid graft options in chronic ACL ruptures and early full weight bearing has no harmful effect on knee stability in short term.