Cruciate repair is repairing a torn or avulsed cruciate ligament from its two ends, rather than using a replacement graft. Page updated July 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
In selected patients the cruciate ligament can be brought back to the native position against the wall of the notch and fixed there.
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.
A braided 'internal brace' may be used to support the ligament during healing.
The Sherman Classification is useful in determining which cruciate tears are most likely to be amenable to repair, that is a Sherman Type I, which is an avulsion of the upper part of the ligament from the wall of the intercondylar notch.