Eighty patients with persistent clinical and functional instability of
the knee due to anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency underwent the
operation reported, in which one-third of the patellar ligament substitutes
for the cruciate ligament and extraarticular tendon transfers, medial and
lateral, augment the substitution. The patients were followed for a minimum
of two years, and fifty returned for personal evaluation. The average
follow-up was thirty-three months, with a range of two to five years. There
were thirty-five male and fifteen female patients. The average age was
twenty-three years. The average interval from initial injury to the index
operation was two years. Meniscal tears and articular changes were noted in
most of the patients. Forty-three (86 per cent) of the fifty patients had
at least one torn meniscus, twenty-seven patients (54 per cent) had
significant degenerative articular changes, and fourteen (28 per cent) had
patellar articular changes. In the procedure described, eccentric placement
of the tibial and femoral tunnels for more accurate placement of the
patellar ligament substitute is essential. The over-all results were graded
as excellent in thirty knees, good in seventeen, fair in one, and a failure
in two. One knee that was classified as a failure showed excellent
stability, but the patient had significant pain from chondromalacia of the
patella, while significant pain and hyperesthesia from a neuroma was the
reason for failure in the second patient.