Primary ACL repair: Early results.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is the current gold standard for treating ACL injuries. However, primary ACL repair has recently regained attention as a potential alternative in carefully selected patients. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes of primary ACL repair in patients with proximal ACL tears and good tissue quality. Methods: Sixteen patients with proximal ACL tears (Sherman's type 1 and 2) and good tissue quality underwent arthroscopic primary ACL repair. Patients were divided into two groups based on follow-up duration: Group A (>12 months; n=4) and Group B (<12 months; n=12). Clinical stability tests, Lysholm scores, and postoperative MRI findings were assessed. Results: The overall mean Lysholm score was 86.6, with 75% of patients achieving good to excellent scores. Negative Lachman's test was observed in 93.75% of patients (Group A: 75%, Group B: 100%; p=0.250), and negative pivot shift test in 87.5% (Group A: 75%, Group B: 91.7%; p=0.450). Postoperative MRI showed normal-appearing ACLs in 81.25% of patients (Group A: 100%, Group B: 75%; p=0.529). Conclusion: Primary ACL repair demonstrated favorable early outcomes in patients with proximal tears and good tissue quality, with clinically stable knees, good to excellent functional scores, and normal-appearing repaired ACLs on MRI. Further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]