Forty-two consecutive patients (27 male and 15 female, with a mean age of 26 years) suffering from unilateral chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency underwent surgical reconstruction with a Dacron high-strength ligament (Stryker). In 32 patients the synthetic ligament was used as a reinforcement in an iliotibial band intra-articular procedure and in 10 patients as an intra-articular prosthesis without biological reinforcement. There were 24 concomitant injuries such as meniscal tears, status post-meniscectomy or medial collateral ligament insufficiency at the time of reconstruction. The initial injury occurred during soccer in 23 patients and other pivoting sports in 16 patients. Two and 5 years after reconstruction, the patients underwent clinical examination, including the instrumented knee laxity test (OSI), and performed subjective evaluation. The anterior tibial translation was 6.3 +/- 2.6 mm greater than in the healthy knee, the mean Lysholm score was 78 points, and the Tegner activity score was lower than its pre-injury level. Radiography revealed that 31 of 37 ligaments had ruptured and another 2 ligaments showed more than 5 mm side-to-side increased laxity. The Stryker Dacron high-strength ligament ruptured in more than 80% of the cases and patients could not return to their pre-injury physical performance activities.