ABSTRACT
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with patellar-tendon-bone, semitendinosus/gracilis, iliotibial band, and meniscus have all given "success" rates between 75% and 85% with reasonably short (less than three years) follow-up periods. A 7.9-year average follow-up evaluation of patellar tendon ACL reconstruction would probably represent the overall success rate of the above procedures at 69% good or excellent. All of these procedures require significant dissection and lengthy rehabilitation periods of six months to a year. In attempting to compare these various reconstructions, it is obvious that it will be necessary to develop a consistent and reproducible subjective and objective knee rating system that is presently not used by these authors. Prior to the use of the various prosthetic ACL reconstructions, careful follow-up analysis of the existing body of autogenous ACL reconstructions must be constantly reviewed and assessed in light of the newer data. As Ivar Palmer stated in 1938, "However, it cannot be denied that interferences of this kind are extensive, time-consuming and rather risky, and at the best of times, they cannot result in a restitutio ad integrum."