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Forty patients with anterior cruciate reconstructions using semitendinosus and gracilis autografts and a ligament augmentation device were reviewed at a minimum of 20 months postoperatively to determine if an accelerated rehabilitation program was detrimental to intermediate follow-up results. The rehabilitation program included immediate full weightbearing, using crutches as aids for 2 weeks only, and a Generation II rehabilitation brace set at full range of motion for 2 weeks followed at 2 weeks by bicycle riding and strengthening exercises. Return to sports was allowed at 4 months for nonpivoting sports and at 6 months for level 1 sports involving pivoting. Thirty-seven patients were available for followup. At followup, three grafts were determined to be nonfunctional (KT-1000 arthrometer testing indicating > 4 mm of side-to-side difference). The other 34 patients had good or excellent results, with all returning to their preinjury levels of sport with a brace. Early accelerated rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autograft and a ligament augmentation device does not seem to affect the results adversely. Results in this series were as good as or better than other series using the same reconstructive technique.
MacDonald et al. (Fri,) studied this question.