Deterioration of patellofemoral articular surfaces after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

One hundred eighty-seven patients who had undergone intraarticular anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using either a fresh-frozen allogeneic tendon or central third autogenous patellar tendon 3 to 89 months pre viously were arthroscopically evaluated. The focus was on secondary changes of the patellofemoral joint at the time of second-look arthroscopy. Overall, 93 knees deteriorated, 74 knees remained unchanged, and 14 improved. The deteriorative changes were predomi nantly located around the central ridge of the patellae, although all but two knees remained free from anterior knee pain. Statistical multivariate analysis showed sur gical approach by conventional medial parapatellar in cision and use of the central one-third of the autoge nous patellar tendon graft as possible risk factors for the deterioration, although chi-square analysis failed to demonstrate statistical significance for the latter.