We report the results of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft and a bioab-sorbable interference screw (Bioscrew, poly L-lactic acid, Linvatec co., USA).

From January 1998 to December 1998, we performed 39 cases of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using BPTB autograft and a bioabsorbable interference screw. The average follow-up period was 2 years and 8 months. We performed KT-2000 testing and measured the IKDC, Tegner and Lysholm scores preoperatively and compared these with the results of a final evalua-tion. We performed second-look arthroscopy on 4 cases and observed the degree of degradation of the bioabsorbable interference screw.

Preoperative evaluation revealed an average range with a KT-2000 of 8.1 ±3.4 mm, a Lysholm score of 66.2 ±16.3, an IKDC score below C in all cases and a Tegner score of 3.7 ±0.9, but final results showed a KT-2000 of 2.8 ±2.2 mm, a Lysholm score of 91.7 ±7.5, an IKDC score above B in all except 3 cases and a Tegner score of 6.9 ±1.1. Second-look arthroscopy at 3 and 12 months post-operatively showed no degradation of the bioabsorbable interference screw, but there was partial degradation of the bioabsorbable inteference screw at 21 and 33 months.

Bioabsorbable interference screws seems a reasonable alternative to metallic screws in ACL reconstruction. Bioab-sorbablescrew implanted in humans may take much longer to degrade than expected, more study is needed.