Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autogenous patellar tendon graft in patients with articular cartilage damage.

To test if anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autogenous patellar tendon can alleviate symptoms and functional limitations and increase activity levels in patients with advanced articular cartilage damage, we looked at 53 patients with arthroscopically documented cartilage damage. In this group, a mean of 7.5 years had elapsed between the original injury and the reconstruction, and 90 prior operative procedures had been done. Postoperatively, all patients had immediate motion and early functional rehabilitation. The results were assessed with the Cincinnati Knee Rating System. At followup (mean, 27 months), significant improvements were found for pain, swelling, giving way, functional limitations with daily and sports activities, and the overall rating score. Forty-two patients (79%) had returned to some type of athletic activity. Only three patients (6%) had failed results. In the patients' own ratings of the overall knee condition, 8 of 51 (16%) rated their knees as normal, 28 (55%) as very good, 7 (14%) as good, 5 (10%) as fair, and 3 (6%) as poor. We concluded that the majority of patients benefited from the arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction because it decreased episodes of giving way with daily activities and increased activity without aggravating the preexisting arthrosis.