Long-term evaluation of knee stability and function following surgical reconstruction for anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency:

Currently used measures of knee stability and function for ACL reconstructed knees have not gained universal acceptance. Clinical test results often are given more value than the patient's subjective evaluation of the surgical outcome. This study was designed to identify specific knee stability and function variables that were most predictive of the patient's rating of knee function following one of two types of combined (intraarticular and extraarticular) ACL reconstruction procedures. In dividual measures of knee stability and function were also evaluated for differences between contralateral operated and nonoperated limbs. Postoperative and healthy contralateral knees of 51 male and female patients aged 18 to 49 years (mean, 23.7 years) were evaluated on a battery of tests at an average of 48.0 months after surgery (range, 24 to 101 months). All subjects possessed a normal contralateral knee for comparative purposes. The results of this retrospective study indicated that the variables selected were not...