Functional recovery following primary ACL repair with dynamic intraligamentary stabilization

- We evaluate functional recovery for patients undergoing acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair alongside DIS.
- Limb symmetry index (hop test) as well as knee function was analyzed.
- DIS provides high mean LSI values (> 90%) following acute ACL repair.
- DIS provides good knee function following acute ACL repair.
- DIS provides comparable rerupture rates to the standard techniques at one-year follow-up.

BackgroundRecently, a new technique, dynamic intraligamentary stabilization (DIS) was introduced for the acute repair of ACL ruptures. The purpose of this study was to report the functional recovery for patients undergoing acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair alongside DIS.MethodsForty five patients sustaining acute ACL rupture and treated with DIS repair were retrospectively evaluated. Limb symmetry index of the hop test as well as knee function by means of range of motion, knee swelling, pain and maximum strength were evaluated. Following completion of the rehabilitation program, the difference in anterior-posterior translation (Δ-AP Translation), IKDC, Tegner score (TAS) was additionally analyzed.ResultsForty five (13 females, 32 males) patients were included in the study. Mean age was 26 years (range 18 to 54 years). Median time to successfully complete hop test was 22.0 weeks (range 11 to 32 weeks) postoperatively. Median limb symmetry index 91.6% ± 8.3%. Median delta anterior-posterior translation compared to the healthy side was plus 0.0 mm ± 1.6 mm. Median IKDC was 89.5 ± 6.5. Mean Tegner score (TAS) at 12 months of follow-up was seven (range four to nine). Three patients suffered a rerupture during the first 12 postoperative months.ConclusionsDIS technique with proper rehabilitation following acute ACL rupture provides successful functional recovery and low rerupture rate at one-year follow-up.