Mean follow-up was 11.6 +/- 0.8 years. Nine graft ruptures occurred. The satisfaction rate was excellent (90%). Seventy patients (74%) were still actively participating in sports. The mean subjective IKDC 2000 score was 90.5 +/- 8.8 points. The IKDC score was statistically correlated to laxity, time from injury, and osteoarthritis development at final follow-up. Ninety-one percent of patients were graded A or B according to the overall IKDC score. The radiological assessment reported osteoarthritis development in 17.8% of patients, and 39% showed radiological changes. Osteoarthritis was correlated with body mass index (P = .01) and age at follow-up (P = .006). In a selected population without meniscus and articular cartilage injury, an osteoarthritis rate of only 8% was found. Conclusion Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft resulted in high patient satisfaction levels and good clinical results after 10 years. Moreover, a high percentage of patients remained involved in sports activities, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction protected their meniscus from a secondary tear. However, knee osteoarthritis developed in 17.8% of patients so treated.

Level IV, prospective study.

No abstract

Prospective diagnostic study.