Fifty patients (fifty-three knees) with surgically verified ruptures of
the anterior cruciate ligament were evaluated at an average of ten years
after injury. There was a high incidence of anterior laxity, rotatory
instability, and meniscal tears at follow-up. The roentgenographic
incidence of osteoarthritis at follow-up was low. Patients who had regained
normal thigh circumference had better results than those with thigh
atrophy. Although few of the patients felt that the knee was completely
normal, 72 per cent of the patients returned to strenuous sports and 47 per
cent felt that they had no restrictions because of the knee. This study of
untreated ruptures may provide a baseline for evaluation of procedures to
repair or reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament.