RESUMEN
Twenty-two patients underwent arthroscopic evaluation after anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone graft [BPTB]. The time interval between second look arthroscopy and reconstruction was 17.1 months [range 11 to 36]. They were all males with an average age 25.6 years [range 20 to 38]. The procedure for reconstruction was arthroscopically assisted in 15 patients and by miniarthrotomy in 7 cases. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between the subjective and objective clinical finding with the finding at second look arthroscopy. The finding at second look arthroscopy showed, 8 cases had excellent graft, 11 cases had a moderately insufficient graft and 3 cases had a poor graft finding. The preoperative Lyshoim score was 64.3 points and the average post-operative Lysholm was 91.1 points. The final clinical end results showed excellent result in 14 cases, good in 6 cases and fair in 2. Preoperatively all cases complained of instability, postoperatively 3 cases had mild instability in sports activity, with no statistically significant correlation to the arthroscopic finding result. All cases with excellent arthroscopic result had a negative pivot shift test, 7 cases had a negative Lachman. Among the moderate insufficient group, 7 cases with a mildly positive Lachman, and 2 had a mildly positive pivot shift test. There was a positive correlation between the arthroscopic finding result and the laxity of the knee but a negative correlation to the stability. There has been an increase in the incidence of patello-femoral degenerative changes with no significant correlation to the arthroscopic graft result. In conclusion: ACL reconstruction using BPTB graft will not result in an arthroscopically normal ACL in the majority of cases but the knee function and stability have been restored. In spite of the good functional result and patient's satisfaction, the arthroscopic findings were disappointing