Twenty-nine patients with late reconstructive surgery for anterior cruciate ligament lesions had a clinical and radiologic follow-up ten years after injury. Anterior sagittal displacement of the tibia was recorded on the routine standing radiographs in 16 knees all having a normal femoro-tibial alignment in the non-weight-bearing position. Five of eleven patients with sagittal displacement of between 10 and 19 mm had early osteoarthrosis, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging in four cases; their ages ranged from 23 to 38 years. No radiographic signs of osteoarthrosis were observed in those with displacements of less than 10 mm. In some patients there was a discrepancy between the clinical and radiographic measurements of instability. In addition to the clinical tests of instability standing rather than non-weight-bearing lateral radiographs are suggested for the routine assessment of cruciate ligament injuries.
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