Cruciate repair is repairing a torn or avulsed cruciate ligament from its two ends, rather than using a replacement graft.
The Sherman Classification is useful in determining which cruciate tears are most likely to be amenable to repair.
In selected patients the cruciate ligament can be brought back to the native position against the wall of the notch and fixed there.
A braided 'internal brace' may be used to support the ligament during healing.
Cruciate repair versus reconstruction
Cruciate repair had been abandoned some years ago in favour of cruciate reconstruction but, with improved understanding of which cruciate tears heal more readily and with improved technology, the procedure is making a comeback, especially in children.
CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair with Internal Brace Ligament Augmentation. Wilson WT, Hopper GP, Byrne PA, MacKay GM. Surg Technol Int. 2016 Oct 26;29:273-278.
Paediatric ACL repair reinforced with temporary internal bracing. Smith JO, Yasen SK, Palmer HC, Lord BR, Britton EM, Wilson AJ. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016 Jun;24(6):1845-51.
See also:
eBook - ACL Repair in Children
Easy to read book about the special circumstances of ACL injury in children.