Abstract des Autors

The central importance of the cruciate ligaments for the knee function has been known since Weber, 1836. Hey Groves tried to reconstruct the cruciate ligaments by means of a fascia lata-transplant. Therefore, transplants were taken from the pes anserinus group, inner meniscus, ligamentum patellae, and quadriceps tendon in order to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament. The basic problem of autologous or homologous transplants is the necrosis in the beginning, which only from the 2nd week on gives way to a steadily increasing revitalization, and only after 1 to 2 years is the remodelling expected to be finished. As we could show in experimental examinations, a faster and qualitatively improved revitalization is achieved by using additional measures such as a synovialization of the transplant. Our clinical results favor the use of free patellar tendon transplant in order to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in long-standing injuries or acute midtendon ruptures. The semitendinous tendon is sufficient as augmentation in case of proximal intraligamental ruptures. Verf.-Referat