Arthroscopic augmentation technique with 4-strand semitendinosus tendon for partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament

Abstract

Objective To introduce an augmentation technique with 4-strand semitendinesus ten-don in treatment of partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of under arthroscope and investigate the clinical outcome of the technique. Methods A total of 26 patients with posterolateral bundle rup-tures of ACL were treated arthroscopically with 4-strand semitendinosus tendon augmentation. The Inter-nationnal Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm knee score scale were used for evaluation of knee function. The side-to-side difference in anterior knee laxity was examined by KT-1000 (25 de-grees flexion and 301b). Results There was no knee extension limitation, with knee flexion of 130°-150 °(average 142°). The patients were followed up for 12-18 months, which showed grade A in 25 pa-tients (96%) and grade B in one (4%) according to IKDC grade at final follow-up. The subjective IK-DC score was increased from preoperative (71.4±3.7) points to (95.8±3.4) points at final follow-up (t =9.836,P <0.01). The average side-to-side difference in maximal manual test with KT-1000 ar-thrometer at 25° flexion decreased from preoperative (5.1±1.2) mm to (2.1±1.3)mm at final follow-up (t = 10.48 ,P < 0.01). The Lysholm score of all patients was (76.7±3.2) preoperatively and (95. 7±2.4) at final follow-up (t =7.356,P<0.01). Conclusion Augmentation with 4-strand semiten-dinosus tendon under arthroscope can attain excellent clinical results and good anterior stability in treat-ment of partial tears of posterolateral bundle of ACL. Key words: Arthroscopy; Anterior cruciate ligament; Reconstruction