Evaluation of anterior cruciate reconstruction reinforced by the Kennedy ligament augmentation device. An arthroscopic and histological study.

Fifty anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with the Kennedy ligament augmentation device were examined arthroscopically and histologically 6 to 61 months after operation. The autogenous segments used were the quadriceps tendon in 13 and the semitendinosus tendon, with or without gracilis, in 37. The arthroscopic findings were rated as good in 31, fair in 15 and poor in 4, and there was correlation between these grades and KT-1000 measurements. The histological findings were graded as good in 17, fair in 26 and poor in 4; these did not correlate with the arthroscopic grades but with the time interval after reconstruction. Maturation of the autogenous augmented segment was found to progress with time, but took more than 3 years to become complete.