We report a rare case of bilateral absence of the anterior cruciate ligament in an adolescent. The clinical picture, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, the arthroscopic appearance and the follow-up are described. The available literature is discussed.

We reviewed a single-surgeon series of 300 athletic patients who had undergone reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in order to establish the relationship between the timing of the reconstruction and the incidence of meniscal and chondral pathology. The patients were divided into five groups according to the time from their injury to surgery as follows: less than two months, two to ...

BACKGROUND Little is known about the return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and whether sex differences exist regarding the level and timing at which athletes return. HYPOTHESES Compared to school-aged girls, boys return to full sports earlier and at a higher frequency after surgery (1). Athletes who return to sports earlier will not have a higher incidence of subseq...

BACKGROUND Articulated external fixation has been proposed as a method to protect ligament reconstructions while allowing aggressive and early postoperative rehabilitation after knee dislocation. However, the ability of these fixators to protect and stabilize the knee joint has not been clearly determined. HYPOTHESIS Articulated external fixation can reduce anteroposterior translation in the ...

Contact between an anterior cruciate ligament graft and the intercondylar roof has been termed roof impingement. Grafts with impingement sustain permanent damage, and if the injury is extensive enough, then the graft may fail, causing recurrent instability. This study evaluated two mechanical factors that could be responsible for the graft injury associated with roof impingement: an increase in...

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft has long been considered the graft preference for young, active patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The central-third of the native patellar tendon is a reliable graft and is the preferred option for competitive athletes given its excellent track record with high return-to-play rates and low failur...