Medium term follow up of endoscopically assisted BPTB ACL reconstruction using a two-incision technique - Return to sporting activity

We report our findings of a prospective outcome study of a series of 50 patients with chronic ACL injury undergoing arthroscopically assisted bone-patellar-tendon-bone ACL reconstruction. Patients underwent reconstruction if they had instability precluding participation in sport at the desired level and were reviewed at a mean of 62 months. Clinical examination was carried out pre and post operatively. Assessment was augmented by KT 1000 measurement, Tegner activity score and Lysholm score. Surgery was considered a failure if the Pivot Shift test was 2 +(jerk) or symptoms of instability persisted. By these criteria 48 patients were successfully treated. Our results show a good medium term outcome for this reconstructive method. We had a 94% return to sporting activity but at a lower than expected activity level. Clinical examination showed an improvement and we recorded excellent or good results on Lysholm score in all these patients. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.