[Elongation of the anterior cruciate ligament--reefing or displacing (author's transl)].

Among old injuries involving the cruciate ligaments elongation of the anterior cruciate ligament is found in 20%. Follow-up examinations revealed that the purse-string suture technique does not guarantee permanent tightness of the anterior cruciate ligament. In consideration of the unsatisfactory results obtained by the purse-string suture technique it is suggested to effect tightness of the anterior cruciate ligament by the transfer of its distal insertion. The technique is described.