Aims. The purpose of this study was to report the experience of dynamic
intraligamentary stabilisation (DIS) using the Ligamys device for
the treatment of acute ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL). Patients and Methods. Between March 2011 and April 2012, 50 patients (34 men and 16
women) with an acute rupture of the ACL underwent primary repair
using this device. The mean age of the patients was 30 years (18
to 50). Patients were evaluated for laxity, stability, range of
movement (ROM), Tegner, Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee
(IKDC) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores over a follow-up period
of two years. Results. At final follow-up, anteroposterior translation differed from
the normal knee by a mean of 0.96 mm (-2 mm to 6 mm). Median (interquartile
range) IKDC, Tegner, Lysholm and VAS scores were 98 (95 to 100),
6 (5 to 7), 100 (98 to 100) and 10 (9 to 10), respectively. Pre-injury
Tegner activity levels were reached one year post-operatively. A
total of nine patients (18%) required a secondary intervention;
five developed instability, of whom four underwent secondary hamstring
reconstructive surgery, and five required arthroscopic treatment
for intra-articular impingement due to scar tissue which caused
a fixed flexion deformity. In addition, 30 patients (60%) required
removal of the tibial screw. Conclusion. While there was a high rate of secondary interventions, 45 patients
(90%) retained their repaired ACL two years post-operatively, with
good clinical scores and stability of the knee. Take home message: Dynamic intraligamentary stabilisation presents
a promising treatment option for acute ACL ruptures, eliminating
the need for ACL reconstruction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:793–8