Failure and Reoperation Rates Following Arthroscopic Primary Repair versus Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Abstract

Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in arthroscopic primary repair of proximal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Although the outcomes of primary repair seem to be promising in small case series at short-term follow-up, no large studies have yet assessed the results of arthroscopic primary ACL repair and compared this to ACL reconstruction. The goal therefore was to assess failure and reoperation rates following primary repair and compare this to the gold standard of reconstruction.