Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Failure Research Articles

Clinical outcome of combined over-the-top reconstruction with modified Lemaire procedure in one-stage revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of over-the-top (OTT) reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) combined with the modified Lemaire technique in one-stage ACL revision. Methods: It's a retrospective study. The clinical data of 37 patients who underwent one-stage revision of ACL using OTT combined with modified Lemaire technique from April 2020 to May 2023 in the Department of Sports Medicine of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 28 males and 9 females with a mean age of (32.7±5.7) years. The postoperative knee function and surgical revision effect were evaluated by subjective and objective evaluation indexes of the knee joint before and 3 months and 24 months after surgery. The subjective evaluation indexes included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score; and the objective evaluation indexes included the anterior-posterior static displacement distance of the tibia, tibia-femur relative rotation angle, the Lachman test, the axial shift test, and the ratio of the loss of muscle strength of the lower limb. Results: At the final follow-up, all patients returned to pre-injury motor level, with significant improvements in IKDC scores (45.3±6.8 preoperatively, 67.5±4.7 and 93.2±2.3 at 3 months and 2 years after the operation, respectively), Lysholm scores (57.2±2.6 preoperatively, 72.6±2.9 and 89.7±3.7 at 3 months and 2 years after the operation, respectively), and Tegner scores (3.1±0.7 preoperatively, 4.9±0.6 and 5.8±1.3 at 3 months and 2 years after the operation, respectively) (all P<0.001). The anterior-posterior static displacement distance of the tibia reduced significantly [from (5.2±0.5) mm before the operation to (1.4±0.5) mm at 2 years postoperatively) (P<0.001)]; and the relative rotation angle of the tibia-femur restored to the normal physiological range, it was reduced from 6.2°±1.2° before the operation to 1.7°±0.3° 2 years after (P<0.001). The Lachman test and axial shift test at 2 years postoperatively were all negative. The muscle strength loss ratio of the affected lower limb was significantly better than that before the operation (P<0.001). Conclusion: The use of OTT reconstruction combined with modified Lemaire technique for revision of ACL in patients with ACL reconstruction failure can circumvent the tunnel problem for one-stage revision and better restore the stability and function of the knee joint, with ideal clinical results.

Tendon cross-sectional areaon magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric characteristics can be used to predict insufficient four-strand hamstring autograft diameterin anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review.

To evaluate the utility of semitendinosus tendon (ST) and gracilis tendon (GT) cross-sectional area (CSA) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anthropometric characteristics in preoperative estimation of graft diameter in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with four-strand hamstring autografts. Three databases were searched on 29 August2023. The authors adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and R-AMSTAR (Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Review) guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data on demographics, anthropometric characteristics, imaging techniques, tendon CSA, correlation coefficients, sensitivities, specificities, regression modelsand cutoffs for predicting intraoperative graft diameters above 8 mm were recorded. Forty-six studies comprising 4140 patients were included. Twelve of 19 (63.2%) studies reporting on ST + GT CSA found a moderate to very high correlation with intraoperative graft diameter. Five of 10 (50%) and one of seven (14.3%) studies reporting on ST CSA and GT CSA, respectively, found a moderate to high correlation with intraoperative graft diameter. Cutoffs of ST + GT CSA for predicting graft diameters above 8 mm ranged from 15.8 to 31.2 mm2. Nine of 35 (25.7%) studies that reported on height found a moderate to very high correlation with graft diameter. Seven of 33 (21.2%) studies reporting on weight found a moderate correlation with graft diameter. Of the MRI parameters assessed, ST + GT CSA was the most reliable predictor of graft diameter. However, cutoffs, sensitivities, and specificities for predicting diameters above 8 mm were highly variable. Anthropometric characteristics in general were less predictive of graft diameter than MRI parameters. This information can be used by clinicians to predict patients at risk for ACLR failure due to insufficient graft size. Level IV.

Evaluation of Failed ACL Reconstruction: An Updated Review.

Failure rates among primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) range from 3.2% to 11.1%. Recently, there has been increased focus on surgical and anatomic considerations which predispose patients to failure, including excessive posterior tibial slope (PTS), unaddressed high-grade pivot shift, and improper tunnel placement. The purpose of this review was to provide a current summary and analysis of the literature regarding patient-related and technical factors surrounding revision ACLR, rehabilitation considerations, overall outcomes and return to sport (RTS) for patients who undergo revision ACLR. There is a convincingly higher re-tear and revision rate in patients who undergo ACLR with allograft than autograft, especially amongst the young, athletic population. Unrecognized Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PLC) injury is a common cause of ACLR failure and current literature suggests concurrent operative management of high-grade PLC injuries. Given the high rates of revision surgery in young active patients who return to pivoting sports, the authors recommend strong consideration of a combined ACLR + Anterolateral Ligament (ALL) or Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) procedure in this population. Excessive PTS has been identified as an independent risk factor for ACL graft failure. Careful consideration of patient-specific factors such as age and activity level may influence the success of ACL reconstruction. Additional technical considerations including graft choice and fixation method, tunnel position, evaluation of concomitant posterolateral corner and high-grade pivot shift injuries, and the role of excessive posterior tibial slope may play a significant role in preventing failure.

The relationship between lateral femoral condyle ratio measured by MRI and anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Previous studies have shown that the lateral femoral condyle ratio (LFCR) measured by X-ray has a significant relationship with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, few relevant studies have been performed on LFCR measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (1) To evaluate the relationship between LFCR measured by MRI and ACL injury or rerupture. (2) To compare the LFCR measured by MRI with existing bony morphological risk factors and screen out the most predictive risk factors for primary ACL injury or rerupture. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Totally 147 patients who underwent knee arthroscopic surgery from 2015 to 2019 with minimum follow-up of 48months were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were placed into three groups: 1) the control group of patients with simple meniscus tears without ligament injury; 2) the primary noncontact ACL injury group; 3) ACL rerupture group (ACL reconstruction failure). The LFCR measured by MRI and other previous known risk factors associated with MRI (notch width index, medial tibial slope, lateral tibial slope, medial tibial depth, lateral tibial height) were performed to evaluate their predictive value for ACL injury and rerupture. All the risk factors with p < 0.01 according to univariate analysis were included in the logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, cut-off, and area under the curve (AUC). Z tests were used to compare the AUC values. The LFCR measured by MRI was obviously higher in primary ACL injury group (0.628 ± 0.020) and in ACL rerupture group (0.625 ± 0.021) than that in the control group (0.593 ± 0.030). The best risk factor was the LFCR with a cut-off of 0.602 (AUC, 0.818; 95% CI, 0.748-0.878; sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 66%). When combined with lateral tibial slope (cutoff, 7°) and lateral tibial height (cutoff, 3.6mm), the diagnostic performance was improved significantly (AUC, 0.896; 95% CI, 0.890-0.950; sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 80%). The increased LFCR measured by MRI was associated with a significantly higher risk for ACL injury or rerupture. The combination of LFCR, lateral tibial slope and lateral tibial height were the most predictive risk factors. This may help clinicians identify susceptible individuals and allow precision approaches for better prevention, treatment and management of this disease.

Single- or two-stage revision after failed ACL reconstruction: No differences in re-revision rates and clinical outcomes.

The surgeons' choice of a single-stage or a two-stage procedure in revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr) is based on the possibility of reuse of the tibia and femoral bone tunnels after primary ACLr. The purpose of this study was to compare failure rates and clinical outcomes following single-stage and two-stage ACL revisions in a cohort of patients from The Danish Knee Ligament Reconstruction Registry. Patients identified from 2005 to 2022 with ACL revision and met the following criteria: minimum 2-year follow-up, isolated ACL revision and registered single- or two-stage ACL revision. The primary outcome was ACL re-revision rate. Secondary outcomes were arthrometer sagittal knee laxity (side-to-side difference) and pivot shift (rotational stability difference) evaluated at 1-year follow up. One thousand five hundred seventy-four ACL revisions were included in the study (1331 = single-stage and 243 = two stage). Baseline characteristics showed no difference in relation to age, gender, knee laxity, pivot shift, meniscus injury, cartilage damage or injury mechanism between the two groups. Significant differences were found in relation to the type of graft. No statistical difference in 2-years revision rates between single-stage group 2.79 (95% CI 2.03-3.84) and two-stage group 2.93 (95% CI 1.41-6.05) was found. No significant difference was seen in knee laxity and pivot shift between stage-groups at 1-year follow up. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in knee stability from baseline to 1-year follow-up. The present study found that ACL revision outcomes were similar in terms of rerevision rates and knee laxity for patients managed with a single- or a two-stage surgical strategy. Level III.

The Principles of Knee Joint Preservation

The 3 primary factors involved with preservation of the knee joint include joint alignment, meniscal status, and ligament stability (in particular that of the anterior cruciate ligament [ACL]). These factors are interdependent and result in knee joint homeostasis when all factors are stable. When a deficiency exists in one of the factors, it will affect the others. For example, the ACL and posterior horn of the medial meniscus both act as restraints to anterior tibial translation. Thus, medial meniscal deficiency increases the risk for failure of ACL reconstruction, and chronic ACL insufficiency increases the risk for medial meniscus tears. Furthermore, all 3 of the factors of joint preservation have an impact on the articular cartilage status of the knee joint. Studies have shown that cartilage-preservation procedures do not result in optimal outcomes if there is joint malalignment, meniscal deficiency, or ligament deficiency. When evaluating patients with knee cartilage pathology, surgeons should be aware of the various factors involved in knee joint preservation and, if surgery is indicated, all factors should be addressed in order to support a successful result.

Editorial Comment on the Article by M.S. Ryazantsev et al. “Influence of Posterior Tibial Slope on the Risk of Recurrence After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”

The failure of ACL reconstruction may occur not only due to repeated injury but also technical errors or biological reasons. The individual patterns of knee morphology addressed in the study of M.S. Ryasantsev et al., particularly tibial slope. Statistically significant difference does not necessarily mean that it leads to clinical impact on the patient. Therefore, all findings should be discussed from the point of minimal clinically relevant difference, especially if the study is underpowered.

Management of anterior cruciate ligament revision in adults: the 2022 ESSKA consensus: part II—surgical strategy

PurposeThe aim of this ESSKA consensus is to give recommendations based on scientific evidence and expert opinion to improve the diagnosis, preoperative planning, indication and surgical strategy in Anterior Cruciate Ligament revision.MethodsPart 2, presented herein, followed exactly the same methodology as Part 1: the so-called ESSKA formal consensus derived from the Delphi method. Eighteen questions were ultimately asked. The quality of the answers received the following grades of recommendation: Grade A (high level scientific support), Grade B (scientific presumption), Grade C (low level scientific support) or Grade D (expert opinion). All answers were scored from 1 to 9 by the raters. Once a general consensus had been reached between the steering and rating groups, the question–answer sets were submitted to the peer-review group. A final combined meeting of all the members of the consensus was then held to ratify the document.ResultsThe review of the literature revealed a rather low scientific quality of studies examining the surgical strategy in cases of ACL reconstruction failure. Of the 18 questions, only 1 received a Grade A rating; 5, a Grade B rating; and 9, grades of C or D. The three remaining complex questions received further evaluations for each portion of the question and were looked at in more detail for the following grades: B and D; A, C and D; or A, B, C and D. The mean rating of all questions by the rating group was 8.0 + − 1.1. The questions and recommendations are listed in the article.ConclusionACL revision surgery, especially the surgical strategy, is a widely debated subject with many different opinions and techniques. The literature reveals a poor level of standardization. Therefore, this international European consensus project is of great importance and clinical relevance for guiding the management of ACL revision in adults.Level of evidenceLevel II.

The Principles of Knee Joint Preservation: Operative Treatment Strategies.

➤ Joint alignment, meniscal status, and ligament stability are codependent factors involved in knee joint preservation, and any injury or imbalance can impact the knee articular cartilage status and can result in adverse clinical outcomes.➤ Cartilage preservation procedures in the knee will not result in optimal outcomes if there is joint malalignment, meniscal deficiency, or ligamentous instability.➤ Lower-extremity varus or valgus malalignment is a risk factor for the failure of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It represents an indication for a high tibial osteotomy or distal femoral osteotomy in the setting of failed ACL reconstruction, and may even be considered in patients who have an initial ACL injury and severe malalignment.➤ An elevated posterior tibial slope increases the risk of failure of ACL reconstruction, whereas a decreased posterior tibial slope increases the risk of failure of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Association of medial collateral ligament complex injuries with anterior cruciate ligament ruptures based on posterolateral tibial plateau injuries

BackgroundThe combined injury of the medial collateral ligament complex and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most common two ligament injury of the knee. Additional injuries to the medial capsuloligamentous structures are associated with rotational instability and a high failure rate of ACL reconstruction. The study aimed to analyze the specific pattern of medial injuries and their associated risk factors, with the goal of enabling early diagnosis and initiating appropriate therapeutic interventions, if necessary.ResultsBetween January 2017 and December 2018, 151 patients with acute ACL ruptures with a mean age of 32 ± 12 years were included in this study. The MRIs performed during the acute phase were analyzed by four independent investigators—two radiologists and two orthopedic surgeons. The trauma impact on the posterolateral tibial plateau and associated injuries to the medial complex (POL, dMCL, and sMCL) were examined and revealed an injury to the medial collateral ligament complex in 34.4% of the patients. The dMCL was the most frequently injured structure (92.2%). A dMCL injury was significantly associated with an increase in trauma severity at the posterolateral tibial plateau (p < 0.02) and additional injuries to the sMCL (OR 4.702, 95% CL 1.3–133.3, p = 0.03) and POL (OR 20.818, 95% CL 5.9–84.4, p < 0.0001). Isolated injuries to the sMCL were not observed. Significant risk factors for acquiring an sMCL injury were age (p < 0.01) and injury to the lateral meniscus (p < 0.01).ConclusionIn about one-third of acute ACL ruptures the medial collateral ligament complex is also injured. This might be associated with an increased knee laxity as well as anteromedial rotational instability. Also, this might be associated with an increased risk for failure of revision ACL reconstruction. In addition, we show risk factors and predictors that point to an injury of medial structures and facilitate their diagnosis. This should help physicians and surgeons to precisely diagnose and to assess its scope in order to initiate proper therapies. With this in mind, we would like to draw attention to a frequently occurring combination injury, the so-called “unlucky triad” (ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus).Level of evidence Level III Retrospective cohort study.

Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the ipsilateral Quadriceps tendon autograft: a modular reconstructive option.

Failed ACL reconstruction is a common occurrence nowadays due to the increased incidence of ACL surgeries and return to full activities following the surgery. Several challenges might stand in the face of this revision surgery particularly the graft harvest and its suitability to the situation with possible widening of the tunnel and the avoidance of additional morbidity at the contralateral side or anterior knee pain as in patellar tendon harvest. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ipsilateral quadriceps tendon as a source of autograft in revision ACL surgery which constitutes a viable option that can potentially decrease the morbidity of the procedure, and meanwhile provide a graft substitute that can be tailored to suit the dilated tunnels commonly encountered in revision surgery, thus giving the patients a good potential for better functional outcome. Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was done in 30 patients using the ipsilateral quad tendon as a pure soft tissue or with a bony fragment. The mean subjective international Knee Documentation Committee score (IKDC score) at twoyears follow-up was 65.83 ± 7.20. There is statistically significant improvement of the objective as well as the subjective IKDC scores at the end of follow-up when compared to the preoperative as well as the 6-month evaluation figures. The KT1000 arthrometer recorded a mean of 4.50 ± 1.07. Significant improvement of the limb symmetry index was at twoyears duration. The quadriceps tendon can be a solution for several challenges that might appear during the revision ACL surgery with comparable results to other tendons and with minimal morbidity on the function of the harvested muscle tendon.

Femoral Tunnel Malposition, Increased Lateral Tibial Slope, and Decreased Notch Width Index Are Risk Factors for Non-Traumatic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Failure

To identify risk factors for patients who sustain nontraumatic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) failure. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing primary or revision ACLR in our institution between 2010 and 2018. Patients sustaining insidious-onset knee instability without history of trauma were identified as nontraumatic ACLR failure and assigned to the study group. The control group of subjects who showed no evidence of ACLR failure with minimum 48-month follow-up were matched in a 1:1 ratio based on age, sex, and body mass index. Anatomic parameters including tibial slope (lateral [LTS], medial [MTS]); tibial plateau subluxation (lateral [LTPsublx], medial [MTPsublx]); notch width index (NWI); and lateral femoral condyle ratio were measured with magnetic resonance imaging or radiography. Graft tunnel position was assessed using 3-dimensional computed tomography and reported in 4 dimensions: deep-shallow ratio (DS ratio) and high-low ratio for femoral tunnel, anterior-posterior ratio and medial-lateral ratio for tibial tunnel. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Patients' demographic data, surgical factors, anatomic parameters, and tunnel placements were compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to discriminate and assess the identified risk factors. A total of 52 patients who sustained nontraumatic ACLR failure were included and matched with 52 control subjects. Compared to patients with intact ACLR, those who sustained nontraumatic ACLR failure showed significantly increased LTS, LTPsublx, MTS, and deceased NWI (all P < .001). Moreover, the average tunnel position in the study group was significantly more anterior (P < .001) and superior (P= .014) at the femoral side and more lateral (P= .002) at the tibial side. Multivariate regression analysis identified LTS (odds ratio [OR]= 1.313; P= .028), DS ratio (OR= 1.091; P= .002), and NWI (OR= 0.813; P= .040) as independent predictors of nontraumatic ACLR failure. LTS appeared to be the best independent predictive factor (area under the curve [AUC]= 0.804; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.721-0.887), followed by DS ratio (AUC= 0.803; 95% CI, 0.717-0.890), and NWI (AUC= 0.756; 95% CI, 0.664-0.847). The optimal cutoff values were 6.7° for increased LTS (sensitivity= 0.615, specificity= 0.923); 37.4% for increased DS ratio (sensitivity= 0.673, specificity= 0.885); and 26.4% for decreased NWI (sensitivity= 0.827, specificity= 0.596). Intraobserver and interobserver reliability was good to excellent, with ICCs ranging from 0.754 to 0.938 for all radiographical measurements. Increased LTS, decreased NWI, and femoral tunnel malposition are predictive risk factors for nontraumatic ACLR failure. Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Poster 317: Preoperative and Operative Characteristics in the Context of Patient-Reported Outcomes for ACLR in Patients Aged 40 or Older: Allograft versus Autograft

Poster 317: Preoperative and Operative Characteristics in the Context of Patient-Reported Outcomes for ACLR in Patients Aged 40 or Older: Allograft versus Autograft

Poster 342: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Recreational Athletes Aged 40 and Older: Activity Level as an Indication

Objectives: The number of patients that are continuing to be active is extending into middle age. Many in this population report consistent participation in recreational sports. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is the gold standard for treatment among young athletic patients, but nonoperative treatment has historically been utilized more often in older patient populations. It has been traditionally thought that older adult patients do not share the same activity level as younger patients and thus are not in need of surgical treatment of an ACL injury. There is some hesitancy to treat older patients if they have mild to moderate pre-existing arthritis, but in recent years the literature has demonstrated good outcomes in this population. The type of graft used in older patients is another source of controversy, with many surgeons opting to use allograft rather than a patient’s native tissue for ACLR. Factors that can inform decision-making such as pre-injury activity level and employment have not been thoroughly assessed for these patients. The purpose of this study was to better understand indications for ACLR in patients aged 40 and older by characterizing their activity level, mechanisms of injury, employment status, demographics, surgical characteristics, and patient reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: A registry of prospectively-collected PROs from a single metropolitan ambulatory surgical center was retrospectively reviewed for patients that received an ACLR from 2009-2016. Patients younger than 40 years old, revision procedures, and concomitant ligament repairs or reconstructions were excluded. Demographic, employment, activity, injury, and surgical characteristics were extracted via chart review. The level of strength required by the patient’s occupation was stratified by the definitions from the United States Department of Labor Occupation Requirements Survey (graded as “sedentary”, “light work”, “medium work”, “heavy work”, “very heavy work”). Surgical outcomes include ACLR failure or re-rupture, ipsilateral knee re-operations, and complications. PROs utilized were the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) and Knee Injury &amp; Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) collected pre-operatively and at two years post-operatively. Results: A total of 141 patients were identified. More than half the patients were female (n=81, 58%) and the average age was 47 years old (range: 40-66). Approximately 87% (n=124) of patients had PRO data. The average KOOS and SANE at two-year follow-up were 80.0 ± 15.9 and 85.3 ± 22.0, respectively. The average change from baseline score were 20.8 ± 20.2 and 24.1 ± 30.3 for KOOS and SANE, respectively. Pre-existing arthritis was found in the majority of patients (n=88, 62%). The most common graft type used for ACLR in this group was allograft (n=95, 67%). Injured menisci were typically treated with meniscectomy vs repair (n=65, 56%). The majority of patients (n=104, 77%) were engaged in a sport when they sustained an ACL injury, with 96% being engaged in a sport that requires running, jumping, and other high-impact activity. Those injured while involved in a sport on average demonstrated higher KOOS scores at baseline and at two-year follow up compared to those that were not involved in a sport (61.5 ± 18.0 vs 51.6 ± 18.0 at baseline, p=0.045; 82.8 ± 13.7 vs 70.8 ± 19.5 at two years, p=0.0048). A total of 27 of the sporting-related injuries occurred in patients age 50 or older (60% of n=45 patients age 50 years or older). All of these patients expressed a desire to return to sport and pre-injury activity. Skiing was the most frequently cited sport (n=41, 29%). Most ACL injuries were acute, with just 10% found to be chronic. The mechanism of injury varied by activity, but non-contact type ACL injuries were the most prevalent (n=66, 49%). Although most patients worked in a sedentary or desk job environment (n=87, 65%), some worked in very heavy-duty jobs (n=18, 14%). There was a low incidence of re-ruptures and re-operations (4.5% and 8.7%, respectively). Conclusions: The majority of patients aged 40 and over sustained ACL injuries while engaging in sports, with all of these patients citing a desire to return to sport and pre-injury activity level as their reason for wanting an ACLR. Patients were mostly treated with allograft compared to autograft, and meniscal injuries were most frequently treated through meniscectomy instead of repair. Many of these patients had some form of pre-existing arthritis and still went on to have surgery with excellent outcomes. PROs were also found to be higher initially and at two-year follow-up in the more active adult group, suggesting that pre-injury and post-injury activity level is associated with improved outcomes. When an older adult patient presents with an ACL tear, surgeons should consider the activity level and desires of the patient as they determine the appropriate avenue of treatment. There is certainly a role for conducting ACLR in patients aged 40 or older. [Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text]

Poster 298: Establishment of a Novel Distance and Angle and Determining Their Relationship with the ACL

Poster 298: Establishment of a Novel Distance and Angle and Determining Their Relationship with the ACL

Single Femoral Tunnel for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Graft and Lemaire's Extra-Articular Tenodesis as a Good Alternative for Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Anterolateral Ligament Revision Surgeries

The literature has shown a significant decrease in failure rates when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction was associated with an extra-articular reinforcement technique such as the anterolateral ligament (ALL) or the iliotibial band tenodesis (ITBT) using the modified Lemaire technique. As much as there is a progressive decrease in the failure rates of ACL reconstructions when the ALL reconstruction technique is associated, there are still and will be cases that will result in graft rupture. These cases will require more alternatives for revision, which are always challenging for the surgeon, where the lateral approaches represent complicating factors, especially because of the distortion of the lateral anatomy (by the previous approach for ALL reconstruction), previous reconstruction tunnels, and the presence of fixation materials. We present here a safe technique that offers great stability to the fixation of the graft and is easy to perform, using a single tunnel for the passage of the ACL and ITBT grafts, allowing a single fixation for both. In this way, we performed a lower-cost surgery, with a lower risk of lateral condyle fracture and tunnel confluence. This technique is indicated to be used in cases of revision after failure of combined ACL reconstruction with ALL.

Arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament: study of the correlation between failure rate and the procedure technique

The failure rate in arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is conditioned by irrational aligning of the drilled transosseous canals, different mechanical properties of the synthetic or auto/allografts, and the number of fixators. By now the published studies on the correlation between failure rate and methods of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction are few. The objective of this research was the investigation of the correlation between the failure rate and certain techniques of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction in patients with its complete isolated rapture.Materials and methods. The study involved 84 patients who in due time underwent single- or double-bundle reconstruction with synthetic implants, or the reconstruction by a semitendinosus and gracilis autografts. The failure rate was estimated in 3, 6, and 12 months by the presence of true clinical signs of the ACL failure along with the patient’s corresponding complaints of the knee joint instability in regular physical load.Results. No differences were observed in the failures rates after surgeries performed by various arthroscopic reconstruction techniques in all periods of observation revealed by the interpretation of true clinical signs of ACL failure and confirmed by the Fisher's exact test value (р &gt; 0.05) and χ2(р &gt; 0.05) for the three groups overall.Conclusion. The examination of patients with complete isolated ACL rapture in all periods of observation for the three samples revealed no correlation between arthroscopic ACL reconstruction failure rates and the employed techniques.

Ipsilateral Quadriceps Tendon-Bone ACL Revision Reconstruction to Address Failed Primary Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone ACL Reconstruction with Persistent Patellar Bone Defect

Bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autograft is a popular graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in active young adults. In case of BPTB ACLR failure, the 3 most popular autograft choices for a revision surgery include contralateral BPTB, contralateral or ipsilateral hamstrings autograft, and contralateral or ipsilateral quadriceps tendon autograft. Quadriceps tendon autograft has been gaining increasing popularity in recent years in this respect, but using quadriceps tendon–bone autograft in the setup of a previous use of ipsilateral BPTB autograft deserves special technical considerations, with emphasis on preserving patellar bone integrity. We describe a technique for performing revision ACLR after failed primary BPTB ACLR by using ipsilateral quadriceps tendon–bone autograft in the setup of persistent distal patellar bone defect. Using this autograft benefits the advantages of highly resilient graft tissue in addition to fast bone-to-bone healing on the femoral side, and it can be an excellent choice in revision reconstruction for surgeons who prefer tendon-bone autograft for highly active young adults and specifically when the patients underwent bilateral primary autologous BPTB ACLRs.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate With Two-Staged-Revision ACL Reconstruction

Background: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, reconstructions, and re-ruptures has rapidly increased. Patients with failed ACL reconstructions have been reported to suffer from far worse outcomes as compared with those with primary reconstructions, prompting the advancement of surgical and biologic techniques. Effective treatment of re-tears has been shown to be achieved either utilizing a 1-stage or 2-staged approach, with the latter preferred if the patient presents with significant bone loss, previously malpositioned tunnels, or unacceptable tunnel expansion. Recent literature has shown the efficacy of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in improving clinical outcomes and graft integration as well as accelerated ligamentization. Indication: Patients are indicated for surgery when presenting with chronic ACL graft failure and objective insufficiency as well as concerns regarding tunnel overlap, enlargement, or interference. Contraindications for revision involve influences of concurrent injuries that may be secondary causes of the ACL injury. Technique Description: After bone marrow aspiration is performed, the tibial and femoral tunnel apertures are debrided of fibrous tissue with a combination of a shaver and curettes. A threaded guide wire is passed and the interference screws are removed, revealing the residual ruptured graft. A shaver and radiofrequency ablation device are utilized to clean off remaining graft remnants. Sequential debridement and reaming are performed to remove any residual fibrous tissue or sclerotic bone from the tunnel. The demineralized bone matrix is then combined with the prepared BMAC in a syringe with a cannula extension and subsequently injected into the tunnels. A freer elevate is used to tamp and smooth the graft to match the surrounding contour. A 12-mm cannulated allograft bone dowel is then passed up into the tibial tunnel and gently tamped into place. Results: Within 2 years postoperatively, patients are expected to have improved overall knee-specific quality of life, reduced pain, and a successful return to activities. No differences in outcomes have been noted in the literature between 1-staged and 2-staged ACL reconstructions. Discussion/Conclusion: Recent advancements in our understanding of the effects of BMAC in the setting of an ACL reconstruction should prompt surgeons to consider such treatments in indicated patients. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Survival of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions in active-duty military populations.

Anterior cruciate ligament tears and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are common in young athletes. The modifiable and non-modifiable factors contributing to ACLR failure and reoperation are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to determine ACLR failure rates in a physically high-demand population and identify the patient-specific risk factors, including prolonged time between diagnosis and surgical correction, that portend failure. A consecutive series of military service members with ACLR with and without concomitant procedures (meniscus [M] and/or cartilage [C]) done at military facilities between 2008 and 2011 was completed via the Military Health System Data Repository. This was a consecutive series of patients without a history of knee surgery for two years prior to the primary ACLR. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were estimated and evaluated with Wilcoxon test. Cox proportional hazard models calculated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to identify demographic and surgical factors that influenced ACLR failure. Of the 2735 primary ACLRs included in the study, 484/2,735 (18%) experienced ACLR failure within four years, including (261/2,735) (10%) undergoing revision ACLR and (224/2,735) (8%) due to medical separation. The factors that increased failure include Army Service (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.67, 2.87), > 180days from injury to ACLR (HR 1.550, 95% CI 1.157, 2.076), tobacco use (HR 1.429 95% CI 1.174, 1.738), and younger patient age (HR 1.024, 95% CI 1.004, 1.044). The overall clinical failure rate of service members with ACLR is 17.7% with minimum four-year follow-up, where more patients are likely to fail due to revision surgery than medical separation. The cumulative probability of survival at 4 years was 78.5%. Smoking cessation and treating ACLR patients promptly are modifiable risk factors impacting either graft failure or medical separation. Level III.