Fifty-eight professional and competitive amateur athletes had a combined
reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with use of the
semitendinosus tendon for the intra-articular portion of the reconstruction
and a strip of iliotibial band for the extra-articular augmentation. Thirty
patients (thirty-two knees) were evaluated two to seven years
postoperatively to assess the results and the ability to return to
athletics. Follow-up consisted of an interview, clinical and
roentgenographic examinations, and testing with an arthrometer. Six
patients (20 per cent) had a rating of excellent; twenty-two (73 per cent),
good; and two (7 per cent), fair. There were no poor results. Of the
thirty-two knees, twenty had an associated injury: twenty meniscal tears in
eighteen knees, three tears of the medial collateral ligament, four
osteochondral fractures of the lateral femoral condyle, and two loose
bodies. Combined reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament resulted
in improved stability of the knee in these patients whose goal of treatment
was to be able to resume sports at a highly competitive level.