Complete ACL Rupture Research Articles

Spontaneous Healing in Complete ACL Ruptures: A Clinical and MRI Study

Most authors believe the ACL does not spontaneously heal after a complete rupture. Although several studies have reported spontaneous healing of torn ACLs, it is difficult to determine its healing potential and whether patients will be able to return to sports activities. We therefore asked whether (1) a complete ACL rupture in patients can spontaneously heal without the use of a specific rehabilitation program or bracing and (2) patients are able to return to their athletic activity after spontaneous ACL healing. We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients with acute ACL injury established by physical examination and MRI (proximal third in eight patients and the midligament in six). Average age at injury was 31years (range, 23-41years). All patients were athletically active before injury. Surgery was indicated in all patients but for various reasons postponed. We obtained International Knee Documentation Committee scores, Lysholm-Gillquist scores, and MRI. The minimum followup was 25months (mean, 30months; range, 25-36months). At last followup, the mean Lysholm-Gillquist score was 97. According to the International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation, 10 knees were normal and four nearly normal. All knees regained end point with a negative pivot shift test; MRI at followup showed an end-to-end continuous ACL with homogeneous signal. All patients returned to their former activity level. However, after the study period, two patients had a rerupture of the ACL (2.5years after the first lesion). Our observations indicate an acutely injured ACL may eventually spontaneously heal without using an extension brace, allowing return to athletic activity. Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reconstruction biologiquement améliorée du ligament croisé antérieur

Summary Biological integration of the tendon graft is a crucial prerequisite for successful ACL reconstruction. Histological studies showed that the human ACL remnants contain a cellular capacity for healing potential. The goal of this technical note is to describe an ACL reconstruction technique, using ACL remnants as a biological sleeve for the graft. In case of complete ACL rupture with a large remnant, the tibial tunnel was performed inside and through the ACL tibial stump by careful sequential drilling. Femoral tunnel placement was performed by an outside-in technique. The hamstring graft was kept attached to the tibia and routed through the ACL remnant to the femur. The aim of this technique is the preservation of the biological and mechanical properties of the ACL remnant. In order to preserve large remnants resulting in greater graft coverage, the best period to perform this reconstruction is during the first weeks after the injury.

Biologically enhanced ACL reconstruction

Biological integration of the tendon graft is a crucial prerequisite for successful ACL reconstruction. Histological studies showed that the human ACL remnants contain a cellular capacity for healing potential. The goal of this technical note is to describe an ACL reconstruction technique, using ACL remnants as a biological sleeve for the graft. In case of complete ACL rupture with a large remnant, the tibial tunnel was performed inside and through the ACL tibial stump by careful sequential drilling. Femoral tunnel placement was performed by an outside-in technique. The hamstring graft was kept attached to the tibia and routed through the ACL remnant to the femur. The aim of this technique is the preservation of the biological and mechanical properties of the ACL remnant. In order to preserve large remnants resulting in greater graft coverage, the best period to perform this reconstruction is during the first weeks after the injury.

Diagnostic value of physical examination and MRI for complete rupture of anterior cruciate ligament

Objective To compare and evaluate the diagnostic value of physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for complete rupture of anterior cruciate hgament (ACL). Meth-ods We performed retrospective study on 115 patients with knee injuries, who were diagnosed as liga-ment or menisci injury. All the patients were examined by MRI and physical examination, the latter of which included the anterior drawer test (ADT), the Lachman test and the pivot shift test (PST). Arthro-scopy was performed in all patients within three days after the patients were admitted, which was consid-ered as a gold standard for definition of complete ACL tear. Then, chnical epidemic methods were em-ployed to evaluate and compare the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy (π), negative likelihood and positive likelihood of three tests. Results Arthroscopy showed complete ACL rupture in 41 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, posi-tive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, positive likelihood rate and negative likelihood rate of the physical examination versus MRI were 95.1% vs 92.7%, 87.8% vs 97.3%), 81.3% vs 95.0%, 97.0% vs 96.0%, 90.4% vs 95.7%, 7.80 vs 34.33 and 0.06 vs 0.08, respectively.Conclusions On diagnosis of complete ACL rupture, MRI has higher value than physical examination.In the meantime, standard physical examination can attain high diagnostic value and should not be ignored in clinical practice. Key words: Anterior cruciate ligament; Magnetic resonance imaging; Physical examination

Ist die konservative Behandlung der partiellen oder kompletten vorderen Kreuzbandruptur noch gerechtfertigt?

In a review of the recent literature after conservative treatment of the complete anterior cruciate ligament (acl) rupture good results were found in an average (av) of 56% (12-80%) of all cases. In comparison the conservative treatment of partial tears showed in 84% (60-100%) of all cases good results. 79% (32-100%) of the patients with complete acl ruptures and 90% (66-100%) of the cases with partial acl tears were able to continue their sport activities. Secondary acl replacement or meniscus surgery were later necessary in 20% and 14% of the cases (av) with complete acl ruptures and in only 6% and 5% (av) of the cases with partial tears. Most of the patients who were operated later were young and ambitiously engaged in sports. The results of the mostly retrospective studies display a high variability. For this reason it is necessary to perform more prospective, controlled and randomized studies to verify the preventive effect of an early operative treatment to protect the joint form osteoarthritis and progressive instability. Arthrocopy is essential for all cases of acute hemartrosis. Partial acl tears are predominantly treated conservatively, while complete acl ruptures should be treated following an individual decision regimen. A tree for decision making of the treatment of acute acl-injuries is proposed.

1998 Basmajian Student Award Paper: Movement patterns after anterior cruciate ligament injury: a comparison of patients who compensate well for the injury and those who require operative stabilization

The purpose of this study was to describe kinematic and kinetic differences between a group of ACL deficient subjects who were grouped according to functional ability. Sixteen patients with complete ACL rupture were studied; eight subjects had instability with activities of daily living (non-copers) and eight subjects had returned to all pre-injury activity without limitation (copers). Three-dimensional joint kinematics and kinetics were collected from the knee and ankle during walking, jogging and going up and over a step. Results showed that both groups mitigated the force with which they contacted the floor but non-copers consistently demonstrated less knee flexion in the involved limb. The copers used joint kinematics similar to those of their uninvolved knees and similar to knee motions reported in uninjured subjects. The reduced knee motion in the involved knee of the non-copers did not correlate directly with quadriceps femoris muscle weakness.The data suggest that the non-copers utilize a stabilization strategy which stiffens the knee joint which not only is unsuccessful but may lead to excessive joint contact forces which have the potential to damage articular structures. The copers use a strategy which permits normal knee kinematics and bodes well for joint integrity.

Secondary damage to the knee after isolated injury of the anterior cruciate ligament

Between 1978 and 1984, we examined and performed arthroscopy on 1000 consecutive patients. Ninety-eight of the 1000 had isolated ACL damage. These cases do not include patients with initial ACL injuries combined with other intraarticular damage. Diagnosis was by physical and arthroscopic examination. Examination took place an average 13.6 months after injury. Of the 98 isolated ACL injuries, 56 were complete ruptures and 42 were partial ruptures. In most cases of partial rupture, the clinical diagnosis was wrong. "Meniscal damage" was the usual diagnosis in these cases; the true diagnosis was made only by arthroscopic examination. Thirty-four of the 98 patients with isolated ACL injuries (30 men and 4 women) developed further intraarticular damage. Of these 34, 20 had complete ACL rupture and 14 had partial ACL rupture. Treatment after primary injury included physiotherapy in all patients and bracing in those whose knee was unstable during daily activities. Reconstructive surgical procedures were not performed in those patients. The time lapse from the primary to the secondary injury varied from 1 month to 20 years, with an average of 28 months. The secondary damage was caused by a secondary injury that was mild (22 cases) or developed insidiously (12 cases). Five types of secondary damage were observed: partial ACL tears that became complete--11 cases; meniscal tear--8 cases; loosening and subluxation of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus--14 cases; and fracture or damage to the articular condylar cartilage, with or without bone involvement--11 cases. It should be emphasized that the secondary damages were at times combined.