[Early results of rehabilitation after repair of the anterior cruciate ligament with open surgical or arthroscopic method].

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the methods of rehabilitation in patients who had undergone a plastic procedure (open or arthroscopic surgery) of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The value of objective measurement methods used for monitoring the rehabilitation process was also assessed, with particular attention to the usefulness of goniometric pendulum test. All patients underwent rehabilitation in the Department of Motor Organ Rehabilitation at the Upper Silesian Rehabilitation Center in Ustroń. For the purpose of the rehabilitation process evaluation, the condition of patients: goniometry and the pendulum test were performed twice, i.e. at admission and then at termination of rehabilitation. A modification of the Lysholm Scale and a subjective knee questionnaire (WAS) were also used. In group of healthy subjects only the pendulum test was done. Based on the obtained results it was found that the convalescence period needed to achieve the best ultimate capability within the knee joint mainly depended on the operative technique. However, appropriate kinesitherapy may affect the rate of convalescence in the group of patients with less favorable surgical outcome. In patients who had undergone a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, goniometric pendulum test is an effective tool to aid the evaluation of rehabilitation results; the test adds to the assessment done by the well-known subjective methods.