ABSTRACT

42 cases, who had chronic ruptures of anterior cruciate ligament were treated with bone- patellar tendon- bone (BT-B) graft. Access was provided in 31 cases by arthrotomy (open technic), in ll cases B-T-B graft was applied arthroscopically and all graft fixation maintained by Kurasaka interference pins. As for graft, autogenous B-PT-B grafts were used in 29 cases, and allografts obtained from cadavers in 13 cases. Cases were fallawed-up for 21 months an average and evaluated in April 1998 with Lysholm scale. Mean score was determined to be 83.3 in the last evaluation (good result). This score was 81.9 in autogenous graft and 84.7 in allograft group. No graft or fıxation deficiency could be established in both groups. However, when Lysholm scale ana range of matian were taken into consideration, early results seemed to be in favor of employment of allograft in such cases. High cost and likelihood of contaminating disease may be suggested as disadvantages of allograft. Employment of allografts does not disrupt tendon mechanism, reduces problems related with patellar fracture and chondromalacia, and allow post-operative rehabilitation to be instituted at an earlier period.