The use of laser Doppler flowmetry to evaluate anterior cruciate blood flow.

The purpose of this study was to quantitate the blood flow of the anterior cruciate ligament in vivo. Functional flow was evaluated using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), for which the output signal, blood cell flux (BCF), is expressed in terms of volts. Ten patients undergoing routine arthroscopic surgery with clinically intact anterior cruciate ligaments were selected at random for participation in the study. Under arthroscopic visualization, a 2.2-mm probe was placed through a trocar sleeve into the anterior cruciate ligament after the arthroscopic procedure. Pulsatile flow within the ligament was observed in all patients. The mean maximum BCF value ranged from 101 to 274 mV; SD range was +/- 3-9 mV. The mean minimum BCF ranged from 75 to 197 mV; SD range was +/- 0 to 9 mV. Laser Doppler flowmetry offers significant promise as a method for measurement of in vivo anterior cruciate and cruciate substitution blood flow.