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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 90-B, Issue 11, 1446-1450.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.90B11.21210  
Copyright © 2008 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in patients over 50 years

D. L. Dahm, MD, Assistant Professor1; C. A. Wulf, MD, Orthopaedic Resident1; K. A. Dajani, MD, Orthopaedic Research Fellow1; R. E. Dobbs, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon2; B. A. Levy, MD, Assistant Professor1; and M. A. Stuart, MD, Professor1

1 Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
2 Reno Orthopaedic Clinic, 555 North Arlington Avenue, Reno, Nevada 89504, USA.

Correspondence should be sent to Professor D. L. Dahm; e-mail: Dahm.Diane{at}mayo.edu

The records of patients aged 50 years or over who underwent primary reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament between 1990 and 2002 were reviewed. There were 35 knees in 34 patients that met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (50 to 66) and the mean clinical follow-up was for 72 months (25 to 173). A total of 23 knees were reconstructed with patellar tendon allograft, and 12 with patellar tendon autograft. The mean pre-operative knee extension was 1° (–5° to 10°) and flexion was 129° (125° to 150°) and at follow-up these values were 0° (–5° to 5°) and 135° (120° to 150°), respectively. Pre-operatively there were 31 knees (89%) with a Lachman grade 2+ or 3+. Post-operatively, 33 knees (94%) were Lachman grade 0 or 1+. The mean pre- and post-operative International Knee Documentation Committee scores were 39 (23 to 72) and 90 (33 to 100) respectively. The mean pre- and post-operative Lysholm scores were 50 (18 to 68) and 92 (28 to 100) respectively and the mean University of California Los Angeles activity scores were 8.5 before injury (4 to 10), 4.3 (3 to 6) after injury and 8.3 (4 to 10) post-operatively. There were three graft failures (8.6%) requiring revision.

We conclude that reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in carefully-selected patients aged 50 years or over can achieve similar results to those in younger patients, with no increased risk of complications.




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ACL reconstruction in patients over 50 years
Benedict A Rogers
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 17 Dec 2008 [Full text]

(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General