In a randomized, prospective study, sixty-four patients who were
operated on for a torn anterior cruciate ligament were divided into two
groups: thirty patients (the control group) had repair with the
Marshall-MacIntosh technique alone, and thirty-four patients had repair
with the same technique but with the addition of a Kennedy
ligament-augmentation device. The preoperative characteristics were
essentially identical in the two groups. The postoperative management,
resumption of athletic activities, and occurrence of complications were
also similar. All patients were followed for more than two years. No
significant functional or clinical difference between the two groups was
found with respect to residual laxity determined either from dynamic
radiographs or with the KT-1000 arthrometer. There was no evidence that the
addition of the Kennedy ligament-augmentation device gave results that were
superior to those obtained with the Marshall-MacIntosh technique alone.