Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With LARS Artificial Ligament: A Multicenter Study With 3‐ to 5‐Year Follow‐up

PURPOSE: The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by use of the Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) artificial ligament (Surgical Implants and Devices, Arc-sur-Tille, France) with 3- to 5-year follow-up. METHODS: From August 2004 to July 2006, 159 patients with ACL rupture underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with LARS artificial ligament at 4 orthopaedic sports medicine centers in China. They were retrospectively followed up for 50 +/- 6 months (range, 36 to 62 months). Outcome assessment included physical examination, KT-1000 arthrometer testing (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA), magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, Lysholm score, Tegner score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, and subjective satisfaction rate. Quadriceps and hamstring isokinetic strength was evaluated in 68 patients. RESULTS: The side-to-side difference in anterior translation (injured side - uninjured side) measured by KT-1000 arthrometer was 1.5 +/- 1.6 mm (range, -1 to 7 mm) postoperatively, and knee stability was significantly improved compared with preoperative data (P < .0001). Quadriceps and hamstring isokinetic peak torque of the injured limb expressed as a percentage of the contralateral limb was 93.6 +/- 10.7 and 95.8 +/- 12.0, respectively. The Lysholm score improved from 65.1 +/- 12.3 points (range, 30 to 95 points) preoperatively to 94.5 +/- 7.0 points (range, 65 to 100 points) postoperatively (P < .0001). The Tegner score improved from 3.1 +/- 1.6 (range, 0 to 6) preoperatively to 6.1 +/- 1.5 (range, 1 to 9) postoperatively (P < .0001). According to the International Knee Documentation Committee score, 94% of patients were graded A or B at last follow-up. Ninety-three percent of patients were very satisfied or satisfied with their outcome. LARS artificial ligament rupture occurred in 3 patients; knee synovitis developed in 1 of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: ACL reconstruction with LARS artificial ligament used in patients with the ACL stump preserved in the acute and chronic phases has a very good outcome at mean of 50 months' follow-up. The overall complication rate for ACL reconstruction with LARS artificial ligament is 5.7%, and knee synovitis developed in only 1 case. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.