Repairable posterior menisco-capsular disruption in anterior cruciate ligament injuries

Abstract

Two hundred thirty-four consecutive patients with a positive Lachman test underwent examination under anesthesia and diagnostic arthroscopy to include com plete evaluation of both posterior menisco-capsular attachments. Knees which had had previous arthrot omy were excluded. Complete repairable posterior menisco-capsular dis ruptions occurred in 31 of 112 (27.7%) acute cases and 36 of 122 (29.5%) knees in the chronic group. These lesions are not predictable by physical exami nation or by routine clinical grading of instability. Thor ough arthroscopic examination to include direct visual ization of the posterior menisco-capsular junction is necessary for complete diagnosis in anterior cruciate ligament injuries.