KT-1000 Measurements Research Articles

Effects of combining rehabilitation training on the recovery of athletic ability after reconstruction of injured ligament

This paper aims to investigate the impact of conventional rehabilitation training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the recovery of motor abilities in patients following ligament injury reconstruction. Forty postoperative patients who underwent surgery for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) were randomly allocated to either the conventional rehabilitation group or the NMES group. The NMES group received NMES treatment in addition to the conventional rehabilitation program starting from eight weeks postoperatively. Various parameters, including knee joint function, stability, and balance, were compared between the two groups at eight weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. Compared to the data at eight weeks postoperatively, both groups exhibited significant improvements in all measured indicators at 12 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.05). In the 12th week after the surgery, the NMES group demonstrated a Lysholm score of 93.18 ± 3.67 points, an IKDC score of 84.65 ± 2.33 points, a KT-2000 measurement of 0.88 ± 0.45 mm, a thigh circumference difference of −1.33 ± 0.55 cm, a knee flexion angle of 130.12 ± 4.21°, a single-leg standing time of 60.12 ± 9.33 s, a YBT score of 70.26 ± 2.68 points, and a Bulgarian split squat 1RM size of 58.07 ± 6.85 kg; all of these results were significantly superior to those observed in the conventional group (p < 0.05). NMES significantly enhances the recovery of athletic ability in patients following postoperative ACLR and can be effectively applied in clinical practice.

Comparison of the efficacy of LARS ligament and autogenous hamstring tendon plus high-strength suture in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

To compare the clinical efficacy of ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS) and autogenous hamstring tendon plus high-strength suture in arthroscopic reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL). A total of 96 patients with simple PCL injury treated with arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery admitted to our hospital between August 2019 and December 2021 were selected for complete follow-up. There were 78 males and 18 females, 40 cases of left leg and 56 cases of right leg, the aged from 20 to 56 years old with an average of (32.50±8.68 ) years old. The transplants were divided into two groups:LARS group (52 cases) and autogenous hamstring tendon plus high-strength suture group (44 cases). In the LARS group, there were 42 males and 10 females;with an average age of (31.84±8.62) years old;body mass index (BMI) was (24.73±2.29) kg﹒m-2;7 mm LARS was used to reconstruct PCL. In the autologous tendon group, there were 36 males and 8 females, with an average age of (33.06±8.99) years old, BMI was (23.52±2.16) kg·m-2, and the PCL was reconstructed with four strands of hamstring tendons and three pieces of Ethibond suture. All patients underwent functional rehabilitation guided exercise and were followed up regularly after surgery to objectively evaluate the stability of the knee joint by KT-1000 measurement of knee relaxation, and subjective evaluation of knee function by Lysholm score, Tegner score, and International Knee Documentation Council (IKDC) score. Data from preoperative, 3, 6, and 12 month follow-up were collected and analyzed by SPSS software to compare postoperative recovery and ligament relaxation between the two groups of patients. Ninety-six patients were followed up for 12 months. KT-1000 measurement of knee joint in autogenous tendon group and LARS group before operation [(10.73±1.46) points vs (10.55±1.53) points], 6 months after operation[(3.02±0.75) points vs (2.35±0.60) points], 12 months after operation[(3.77±1.76) points vs (2.44±0.60) points]. There was significant difference between the two groups at 6 and 12 months after operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups at 3 months after operation (P>0.05). In the autogenous tendon group and LARS group, before operation and 12 months after operation, total Lysholm score [(40.6±16.8), (91.25±6.35) points vs (51.92±18.52), (92.35±5.30) points], Tegner score[(1.8±0.7), (5.8±0.6) points vs(1.7±0.8)、(5.7±0.7) points] and total IKDC score[(54.50±6.33), (83.90±3.93) points vs (54.40±4.24), (83.62±3.64) points], the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), indicating that the knee function of the two groups was improved after surgery. At 3 and 6 months after operation in the autogenous tendon group and LARS group, the total Lysholm score[(65.86±11.54), (74.60±6.46) points vs (73.46±6.42), (86.73±4.62) points], Tegner score[(2.5±0.6), (3.5±0.5) points vs (4.3±0.7), (5.0±1.4) points], the total scores of IKDC [(55.78±2.68), (70.62±4.74) points vs (65.31±4.60), (79.71±2.93) points]. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The results showed that the function of the knee joint in the LARS group was better than that the autologous tendon group. However, at 12 months after the operation, there was no significant difference in the score of knee joint function between the two groups (P>0.05). The results showed that the stability of LARS group was better than that of autologous tendon group. Both the autogenous hamstring tendon plus high-strength suture and LARS reconstruction can significantly improve the knee function and stability, with satisfactory postoperative results. Howervr the LARS provides superior postoperative stability.

Less Subsequent Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Following Primary Bone–Patellar Tendon–Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Suture Tape Augmentation—A Retrospective Comparative Therapeutic Trial With 5-Year Follow-Up

To investigate patient outcomes, including revision rate, following primary bone patellar-tendon bone autograft (BPTB) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with and without suture tape augmentation (STA) in a young and active cohort. All eligible patients who received primary BPTB ACLR with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included in this retrospective cohort study. All patients receiving STA were augmented with the same device. Patients completed the following patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the visual analog scale, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales, and the Tegner activity scale. Anteroposterior knee laxity was assessed using a KT-1000 arthrometer preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Posterior tibial slope, femoral tunnel angle, and tibial tunnel placement were calculated for all patients. Subsequent surgical interventions and return to sport (RTS) were obtained from each patient. One hundred fourteen patients (52 BPTB ACLR with STA, 62 traditional BPTB ACLR) with a mean patient age <19 years and a mean final follow-up of ≥5 years were included. Compared with the control group, the STA group demonstrated significantly less subsequent revision ACLR (0 vs. 5, P= .036). All PROMs and KT-1000 measurements improved at final follow-up (P<.001) and were comparable between groups. There were no differences seen in either posterior tibial slope or graft tunnel placement between groups. More than 85% of the patients were able to return to the sport that led to their injury at full capacity with no differences seen in RTS rate, time to RTS, or level of competition between groups. Compared with traditional BPTB ACLR, additional STA appeared to safely and effectively lead to less subsequent revision ACLR while maintaining acceptable PROMs and objective joint laxity measurements in a young and active patient population. Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Suture Tape Augmentation: A Case Series of 252 Patients.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using suture tape augmentation to internally brace is a relatively new technique. The primary goal of this study was to prospectively collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and surgical history from patients who underwent primary ACLR with internal bracing to determine if internal bracing resulted in a low graft failure rate while maintaining acceptable PROs. A total of 252 patients with a mean age of 23.6 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.1-25.1) and a mean follow-up of 37.9 months (95% CI: 35.8-40.0) were included in this study. Patients who underwent primary ACLR with internal brace augmentation between July 12, 2016 and July 31, 2021 were eligible. A total of 222 patients were contacted via telephone and administered the visual analog scale (VAS), the single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE), the Lysholm knee score scale, and, if applicable, the short version ACL return to sport after injury (SV-ACL-RSI) survey. Additionally, patients were asked to give an updated orthopaedic history. Thirty additional patients were included from either our institution's registry or by completing their surveys in-office or by e-mail. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient-acceptable symptom states (PASS) were calculated based on our patient population and applied to each individual patient. The patients' electronic health record (EHR) was searched for pre- and postoperative clinical data including KT-1000 arthrometer measurements. Two patients (0.8%) had subsequent graft failures and one patient (0.4%) required a revision surgery. MCID was achieved in 242 patients (96.0%) for the Lysholm, 227 patients (90.1%) for the SANE, and 146 patients (57.9%) for the VAS. PASS was achieved in 214 patients (84.9%) for the Lysholm, 198 patients (78.6%) for the SANE, and 199 (80.0%) patients for the VAS, postoperatively. Of note, 65 patients (25.8%) exceeded the PASS threshold for the VAS preoperatively. A total of 127 patients (84.4%) met the cutoff of ≥60/100 for the SV-ACL-RSI survey postoperatively. Postoperative KT-1000 measurements showed near-identical side-to-side differences at both the 13.6-kg pull and manual maximum pull. When stratifying patients based on age at the time of surgery, it was noted that patients younger than 25 years had significantly higher SANE scores (91.6 [95% CI: 90.2-92.9] vs. 82.6 [95% CI: 79.0-86.2]; p < 0.0001) and lower VAS pain scores (0.7 [95% CI: 0.5-0.8] vs. 1.2 [95% CI: 0.8-1.5]; p = 0.004). Primary ACLR with internal bracing led to acceptable patient outcomes and a graft failure rate of less than 1%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: case series, IV.

Reduced Incidence of Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Internal Brace Augmentation.

Revision rates and outcome measures after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with suture tape as an internal brace is not well-documented because of the emerging nature of the technique. ACLR with internal bracing (IB) would lead to decreased revision ACLR compared with traditional ACLR while exhibiting comparable patient outcomes. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 200 patients were included in this study. Patients aged between 13 and 39 years at the time of surgery who underwent primary autograft ACLR with IB between 2010 and 2020 and were enrolled in our institution's registry with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were identified and matched 1 to 1 with a non-internal brace (no-IB) group based on concomitant procedures and patient characteristics. Pre- and postoperatively, patients completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Marx activity rating scale, Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey, and visual analog scale for pain. Knee laxity measurements via the KT-1000 arthrometer were included in the pre- and postoperative objective clinical assessments. A total of 100 IB patients were matched with 100 no-IB patients based primarily on concomitant procedures and secondarily on patient characteristics. The IB group underwent significantly fewer revision ACLRs (1% vs 8%; P = .017). Even though the no-IB group had a significantly longer mean final follow-up time (48.6 months [95% CI, 45.4-51.7] vs 33.4 months [95% CI, 30.3-36.5]; P < .001), the time elapsed from the original ACLR to the revision did not differ significantly between groups, and the mean ages for the IB and no-IB groups were comparable (19 vs 19.9 years). All postoperative patient-reported outcome scores between the 2 groups were comparable and significantly improved postoperatively except for the Marx score, which significantly decreased stepwise for both groups postoperatively. KT-1000 measurements significantly improved in both groups after surgery with the IB and no-IB cohorts yielding comparable results at the manual maximum pull (0.97 vs 0.65 mm). ACLR with IB resulted in a significantly decreased risk of revision ACLRs while maintaining comparable patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, incorporating an internal brace into ACLR appears to be safe and effective within these study parameters.

Poster 344: Reduced Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Revision with Internal Brace Augmentation: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study with a minimum 2-year Follow-up

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate retear rates in patients who underwent ACLR with and without internal bracing in a matched cohort study. Additionally, we also sought to investigate if there were any differences in clinical and patient-reported outcomes between the groups. We hypothesized that ACLR with internal bracing would reduce the incidence of revisions in a safe and effective manner. Methods: A total of 200 patients were included in this study. Patients between the ages of 13-39 at the time of surgery who underwent primary autograft ACLR with internal bracing (IB group) between October 2010 and July 2020 and were enrolled in our institution’s registry with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were identified and matched 1:1 with a non-internal brace (no-IB) group based on patient demographics and concomitant procedures. Every patient completed the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Marx Activity Rating Scale (MARS), Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR- 12), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pre- and postoperatively. KT-1000 arthrometer measurements were included in the pre- and postoperative objective, clinical assessments. Results: The IB group underwent significantly less revision ACLRs (1% vs. 8%, p = 0.017). Additionally, the average time elapsed from the original ACLR to the revision did not differ significantly and the average ages for the IB and the no-IB groups were comparable (19.0-years-old vs. 19.9-years-old). 5 patients in the no-IB group underwent a total of 9 meniscal procedures among them at the time of their revision ACLR compared to just one in the IB group (p = 0.009). There were also 4 patients in the no-IB group that underwent anterolateral ligament reconstruction at the time of their revisions (4 vs. 0, p = 0.043). All postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) significantly increased in both groups with the exception of the MARS score which significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively. KT-1000 measurements significantly improved in both groups following surgery with the IB and no-IB cohorts yielding comparable results at the manual maximum pull (0.97mm vs. 0.65mm). Conclusions: ACLR with internal bracing resulted in an 88% decrease in revision ACLRs while maintaining comparable patient reported outcomes. Incorporating an Internal brace into ACLR is therefore safe and effective within these study parameters. [Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text]

Good clinical scores, no evidence of excessive anterior tibial translation, a high return to sport rate and a low re-injury rate is observed following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autologous hamstrings augmented with suture tape.

Augmented anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) techniques have been proposed to reduce the high reported re-injury rates and low rates of return to sport (RTS). This study reports clinical outcomes, RTS and re-injury rates in patients undergoing ACLR using autologous hamstrings augmented with suture tape. A total of 53 patients were prospectively recruited, undergoing ACLR using hamstrings with suture tape augmentation, combined with a structured rehabilitation programme. Outcomes were collected to 24months, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), KT-1000 measurements, peak isokinetic knee strength and a four hop test battery. Limb Symmetry Indices (LSIs) were calculated for performance measures, whilst RTS rates, re-tears and re-operations were presented. There were no significant side-to-side differences in anterior tibial translation between the operated and non-operated knees at 6months (p = 0.433), with no increase (p = 0.841) in side-to-side anterior tibial translation from 6 to 24months. At 24months, 98.0% of patients demonstrated normal (< 3mm) or near normal (3-5mm) side-to-side differences. LSIs for peak knee extensor torque (p < 0.0001) and the single (p = 0.001), triple (p = 0.001) and triple crossover (p < 0.0001) hop tests for distance significantly improved. All PROMs significantly improved (p < 0.0001), with 70.2% and 85.7% of patients actively participating in pivoting sports at 12 and 24months, respectively. Three patients underwent secondary procedures for meniscal symptoms. One patient suffered an ACL re-tear (17months), with no further ipsilateral or contralateral injuries. ACLR with suture tape augmentation demonstrated no evidence of excessive anterior tibial translation, high-scoring PROMs, sound performance scores, a high rate of RTS and low re-injury rate.

Small Hamstring Tendon Graft for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Combined With Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction Results in the Same Failure Rate as Larger Hamstring Tendon Graft Reconstruction Alone

To compare patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring grafts 7 mm or less in diameter combined with anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction versus isolated ACL reconstruction with grafts greater than 7 mm in diameter. We retrospectively evaluated the descriptive data and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with hamstring grafts from June 2013 to January 2020 and had a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Patients with quadrupled or quintupled semitendinosus and gracilis autograft 7 mm or less in diameter combined with single-strand ALL reconstruction (ACL-ALL group) were matched in a 1:2 propensity ratio to patients who underwent isolated single-bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring grafts greater than 7 mm (ACL group). We identified 30 patients in our database who met the criteria for the ACL-ALL group. The patients in this group were matched to 60 patients comprising the ACL group. Both groups were similar regarding all preoperative matched and unmatched variables. The mean ACL graft diameter was 6.8 ± 0.4 mm in the ACL-ALL group and 8.6 ± 0.6 mm in the ACL group (P < .001). The ACL-ALL group presented 1 failure (3.3%), and the ACL group presented 3 failures (5%) (P= .717). Postoperative KT-1000 measurements were similar between the groups (2.1 ± 1.1 mm vs 1.9 ± 1.2 mm, P= .114), as were postoperative pivot-shift grades (P= .652). Subjective International Knee Documentation Committee scores and Lysholm scores did not present any differences between the groups (P= .058 and P= .280, respectively). Patients who undergo combined ACL-ALL reconstruction with an ACL graft diameter of 7 mm or less can achieve similar results to patients who undergo isolated ACL reconstruction with a graft diameter greater than 7 mm. An associated ALL reconstruction can be performed to increase knee stability in patients with small-diameter hamstring grafts. Level III, retrospective, comparative therapeutic trial.

Excellent short-term results of dome-shaped high tibial osteotomy combined with all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes at least 2 years after dome-shaped high tibial osteotomy (HTO) combined with all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) in patients with persistent ACL insufficiency accompanied by pain due to varus deformity.MethodsThe study enrolled 19 knees of 18 patients. The mean age was 58.4 ± 13.4 years and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 31.4 ± 6.6 months (24–49 months). JOA(Japanese Orthopaedic Association)-OA(osteoarthritis) score, Lysholm score, radiographic outcomes such as femoro-tibia angle (FTA) in a standing position, side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements were evaluated at pre op. and post operative final follow up. And arthroscopic evaluation was evaluated at the time of the HTO plate-removal procedure.ResultsBefore surgery, the mean JOA-OA score was 65.0 ± 13.5, the mean Lysholm score was 47.2 ± 16.2, the mean femoro-tibia angle (FTA) in a standing position was 183.8 ± 3.4° (range;180–190°), and the mean side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements was 4.1 ± 1.3 mm. After surgery, the mean JOA-OA score, Lysholm score, and side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements improved to 93.1 ± 6.0 (P < 0.00001), 94.2 ± 5.9 (P < 0.00001), and -0.2 ± 0.8 mm (P < 0.00001), respectively. The mean FTA decreased to 168.0 ± 3.3 (P < 0.00001), and the mean posterior tibial slope angle decreased to 5.0 ± 3.6° from 6.9 ± 2.6° preoperatively (P = 0.024). Arthroscopic evaluation during the HTO plate-removal procedure of 17 knees were performed at a mean of 16 months after the surgery. The reconstructed ACL graft in 13 knees were successful, a cyclops lesion in one knee, and looseness of the graft in three knees.ConclusionsDome-shaped HTO allows for a relatively high degree of varus correction and decreases the steep posterior tibial slope that causes excessive load on the ACL. Therefore, its use in combination with ACL reconstruction seems to be effective.

Promising functional outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament repair with suture augmentation.

There has been a renewed interest in the repair of the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of arthroscopic ACL repair with additional suture augmentation (SA), hypothesizing that isolated ACL ruptures would yield superior patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) compared to those with concomitant meniscal and/or ligamentous injuries. This is a retrospective analysis of 93 consecutive patients (67 female, median age 42years) who underwent arthroscopic ACL repair with SA between January 2017 and March 2019 for an acute traumatic ACL tear confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with pre- or intraoperative mid-substance or distal ACL tears and/or poor tissue quality of the ACL remnant were not considered for ACL repair but were scheduled for an ACL reconstruction with a tendon autograft. In patients who underwent ACL repair with SA, the SA construct was proximally stabilized with a flip-button and distally with a suture anchor. Surgery was preferably performed on the day of injury and all surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. Postoperative rehabilitation included partial weight-bearing (20kg) for 6weeks and immobilization in a brace limited at 90-degrees of knee flexion for 4weeks. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were determined using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, Lysholm Score (LS), Tegner Activity Score (TS) and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS). Knee-laxity was assessed using the KT-1000 arthrometer (Med Metrics Corp. Inc., San Diego, USA). Nine patients underwent revision surgery for a traumatic re-tear (four patients) and chronic instability (five patients) and were excluded from further functional analysis. Functional results of 77 patients (54 female) with a median age of 44years (IQR 33-51) on the day of surgery were available for follow-up after a median time of 35months (IQR 33-44). Concomitant injuries were observed in 66 Patients (86%), meniscal injuries in 43 patients (55%) and ligamentous injuries in 50 patients (65%). Median interval from injury to surgery was 1day (IQR 0-1) with 81% (62/77) of patients being treated within 24h of injury. The median IKDC was 92 (IQR 86-99), the median LS was 95 (IQR 86-100), the median pre-traumatic TS was 7 (IQR 6-7), the median post-traumatic TS was 6 (IQR 5-7) with a non-significant median difference (TSDiff) of 0 (IQR 0-1). The median FJS was 95 (IQR 78-98). KT-1000 measurements were available in 34 of 77 patients with a median postoperative laxity compared to the uninjured side of 1mm (IQR 0-2). Interval from injury to surgery, patients' age, body mass index (BMI), knee laxity and concomitant ligamentous or meniscal injuries had no statistically significant impact on postoperative PROMs (n.s.). Following arthroscopic ACL repair with SA good-to-excellent functional results were observed. However, a failure rate of 10% cannot be neglected and warrants further attention. Concomitant injuries to the meniscus and/or collateral ligaments do not seem to be associated with inferior PROMs. Level IV.

A simple arthroscopic technique for treatment of displaced “hinged” type of posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures

BackgroundThe surgical technique for treatment of tibial avulsion fractures of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) remains challenging due to the deep-located lesion and the complexity of the anatomy. The purpose of this study was to report preliminary results of an arthroscopic technique in patients with the “hinged” type PCL tibial avulsion fractures.MethodsTwenty-eight patients with the displaced “hinged” fractures with elevation of the posterior aspect of the bony fragment were arthroscopically treated. The bony fragment was reducted and fixed with the sutures passing through only one single tibial tunnel. The clinical outcomes were assessed by Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, and the side-to-side differences of KT-1000 measurement. The reduction and union of the fracture were assessed by radiography of the knee.ResultsPatients were followed up for a mean of 19 (12 to 24) months. There were no surgery-related complications, and all patients regained normal range of motion of the knees at the last follow-up. The Lysholm score significantly increased from preoperative 14.78 ± 8.23 to postoperative 96.96 ± 3.62 (P = 0.000). The Tegner score was 6.78 ± 1.35 pre-injury and 6.48 ± 1.20 at the last follow-up with no statistical difference (P = 0.688). The KT-1000 side-to-side differences significantly decreased from 8.26(SD 1.86; 6 to 12) pre-operatively to 0.91 (SD 0.85; 0 to 3) (P = 0.000). X-rays showed that satisfactory reduction and solid union was achieved in all patients.ConclusionThe arthroscopic suture fixation through single-tibial tunnel technique yielded good clinical and radiographic outcome for treatment of displaced “hinged” type of PCL avulsion fractures.

Comparison of Rapid Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Tensioning Technique and Traditional Rehabilitation.

To investigate the efficacy of a fast rehabilitation program for the recovery of knee joint function after arthroscopic autologous hamstring tendon transplantation for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), from January 1, 2017, to March 31, 2019, a total of 65 patients with ACL injury were randomly divided into a study group and a control group. Both groups were treated with autologous hamstring tendon to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament, arthroscopic transplantation, and decompression techniques. The research group was treated with a fast rehabilitation program. The control group was treated with traditional rehabilitation program. Knee flexion angles were measured at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. KT-1000 knee anterior stability was measured at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation. Knee function was assessed by subjective knee function assessment scale (IKDC) and Lysholm knee score. The knee curvature, KT-1000 measurement, IKDC score, and Lysholm score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. KT-1000 measured value, IKDC score, and Lysholm score in 2 groups were significantly improved 3, 6, and 12 months compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Comparison between the two groups: 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after treatment, the knee curvature in the study group was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001); there was no significant difference in the measured values of KT-1000 between the two groups 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment (P > 0.05); IKDC score and Lysholm score in the study group 3 and 6 months after treatment were significantly better than those in the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.001); there was no significant difference in IKDC score and Lysholm score between the two groups 12 months after treatment (P >0.05). Autograft hamstring tendon transplantation and tense-reducing technique for anatomical reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy combined with rapid rehabilitation program can quickly, safely, and effectively restore the knee function of patients, greatly shortening the rehabilitation period of patients.

Paper 87: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients Age 50 and Older: Outcomes and Tips for Success

Objectives:As people remain physically active later in life, there is an increased incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in patients 50 years of age and older. Historically, ACL reconstructions have not been recommended for patients over 50 years of age. While there is abundant literature on the outcomes of ACL reconstruciton in patients under 40 years of age, little has been published on the outcomes in this age group. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ACL reconstruction in patients fifty years of age and older rwill esult in an improvement in function, stability, and quality of life at 5-year follow up. We also study the indications, outcomes, and tips for success.Methods:A retrospective review was performed of patients fifty years or older with a minimum follow up of two years who underwent an ACL reconstruction using a bone patellar tendon bone (BPTB) allograft by a single fellowship trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeon over a sixyear period. Patients were excluded from the study if they had significant radiographic osteoarthritic changes, or concurrent ligamentous or bony procedures performed. Patients were asked to return for an evaluation, including physical examination and KT-2000 instrumented stability measurements. Both the operative and non-operative knees were evaluated for range of motion, tenderness, stability on anterior drawer, Lachman, and pivot shift testing. Bilateral KT-2000 measurements which were taken at 10, 20, and 30 pounds as well as maximum manual testing. Each measurement was taken three times and averaged. The following scores were used pre- and post-operatively to assess function and pain: Lysholm, International Knee documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner Activity, and SF-12. A physical examine including KT-2000 measurements was performed in a subset of these patients.Results:Fifty patients with an average follow-up of 5 years (range 2-8 years) underwent an ACL reconstruction using BPTB allograft. The average age at surgery was 55 years (range 50-68 years). Tegner scores improved from a pre-operative score of 3.3 to a post-operative score of 5.3 (p = .0001, 95% CI 2.2-3.5). The average post-operative IKDC score was 81.3 (SD 16.4), Lysholm score 88.5 (SD 16.3), SF-12 physical 54.3 (SD 6.6) and SF-12 mental 51.8 (SD 8.3). Forty (80%) patients reported good to excellent results, six (12%) patients reported fair results and four (8%) patients reported poor results. The patients that returned for a physical examinaiton had a range of motion that averaged flexion to 135 (SD 5.4), and all achieved full extension. There was one patient (2%) that had greater than 4mm translation on Lachman testing, and no patients had a positive pivot shift. There were no identified surgical complications.Conclusions:An anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using BTB allograft successfully restores stability and allows return to pre-injury level of activity with few complications in patients 50 years or older at an average of 5 years follow-up. Our data set represents the largest case series of ACL reconstructions for this age demographic in the literature, using validated outcome tools, and complimented with a physical examination in a sub-set of the cohort. We have found no comparison that yields a clinically significant difference (based on MCID of 10 on theLysholm scale). Thus, older patients can be counseled to expect a functional return close to their pre-injury level, similar to younger patient cohorts.

The coronal lateral collateral ligament sign in the anterior cruciate ligament-injured knees was observed regardless of the knee laxity based on the quantitative measurements.

The coronal lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sign has been reported to be associated with deviated position of the tibia on MRI due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. However, the relationships between LCL sign and clinical knee laxity evaluations are still unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the coronal LCL sign and knee laxity measurements. A retrospective review of unilateral ACL injured patients who underwent ACL reconstruction was performed. The coronal LCL sign was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical grading of the pivot-shift test, KT-1000 measurements, and quantitative measurements of the Lachman test and the pivot-shift test using an electromagnetic system, were compared between patients with positive and negative coronal LCL sign. A subgroup analysis of different age groups was then performed, dividing patients to adolescent (age ≤ 18years) and adult (age > 18years) groups. A total of 85 patients were enrolled, of which 45 patients had coronal LCL signs. The coronal LCL sign was not associated with the pivot-shift test clinical grading (n.s), KT-1000 measurement (n.s), the tibial translation during the Lachman test (n.s), or with tibia acceleration (n.s) and translation (n.s) during the pivot-shift test. The subgroup analysis also showed that the aforementioned parameters were not associated with the coronal LCL sign in either adolescent or adult subgroups. The occurrence of coronal LCL sign in MRI did not imply greater clinical knee laxity evaluations in patients with ACL tears. The knee laxity should routinely be evaluated regardless the coronal LCL sign. Level III.

Risk factors of residual pivot-shift after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is considered a successful procedure, residual pivot-shift after surgery remains to be solved. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the risk factors of residual pivot-shift after anatomic double-bundle (DB) ACLR. A total of 164 patients who underwent primary anatomic DB-ACLR between January 2014 and December 2019 and screw removal after the index ACLR in our hospital were included in this retrospective case-control study. The manual pivot-shift test was performed under general anesthesia during screw removal surgery, and patients with grade 1 or higher pivot-shift were classified as the positive pivot-shift group, and those with grade 0 were defined as the negative pivot-shift group. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with postoperative residual pivot-shift. Assessment included sex, age, time to surgery, preoperative Tegner activity scale, preoperative pivot-shift grade, preoperative anterior tibial translation by the KT-2000 arthrometer measurement, meniscus injury and its surgical procedure, knee hyperextension, cartilage damage, Segond fracture, medial and lateral posterior tibial slope, lateral-medial slope asymmetry, participation in pivoting sport/activity at the time of injury, and return to sports at postoperative one year line. Postoperative positive pivot-shift was observed in 14 (8.5%) of 164 patients. The KT-2000 measurement at 1-year postoperatively was significantly higher in the residual pivot-shift-positive group than in the negative group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age of patients < 20years [P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR): 6.1)], preoperative pivot-shift grade (P < 0.05, OR: 4.4), and hyperextended knee (P < 0.05, OR: 11.8) were risk factors of postoperative pivot-shift. There were no statistically significant differences between other variables. Patients < 20years of age, with high-grade preoperative pivot-shift, or hyperextended knees had a higher risk of residual postoperative pivot-shift.

Acute anterolateral knee instability in adults: combined proximal ACL and ALL injury repair is not inferior to standard ACL reconstruction with LET in 2 years.

Objectives:The objective was to compare the clinical results of ACL and ALL repair with those of standard ACL reconstruction + LET. The hypothesis was that combined repair is non-inferior to standard reconstruction + LET in adults with acute anterolateral knee instability.Methods:Patients with severe acute anterolateral instability (ACL + ALL injuries) who underwent early ACL surgery (injury-to-surgery interval < 14 days), a total of 58 patients, were prospectively enrolled in the study. ACL injuries were classified according to the Sherman classification. Patients with a proximal injury (types 1 and 2) were assigned to receive ACL repair (ACLrep) (n = 37), patients with types 3 and 4 and moderate tissue quality (n = 21) were assigned to receive ACL reconstruction (ACLrec) + lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET). Repair consisted of transosseous suture of the stump to the anatomic origin of the ACL and direct repair of the ALL. Reconstruction consisted of standard ACL reconstruction by semitendinosus-gracilis (STG) autograft + LET. PROMs included IKDC, Lysholm, KOOS, and assessment of anteroposterior (AP) knee laxity in 2 years.Results:A sample size calculation showed that 21 patients in each group were needed for a 95% power (with a 95% CI) to show non-inferiority of the repair group considering an arthrometric side-to-side difference of at least +1.5. Patients in the ACLrep group showed better results on all scales: mean IKDC was 95.51 ± 52.4 versus 86.92 ± 13.92 (p = 0.02); mean KOOS was 97.49 ± 2.71 versus 93.50 ± 7.05 (p = 0.009); and mean Lysholm was 96.98 ± 5.14 versus 91.69 ± 10.08 (p = 0.02). There was no difference in the KT1000 measurement (ACLrep: 1.70 ± 1.02; ACLrec: 2.21 ± 0.80; p = 0.11). The one-sided 95% CI was 1.7 (to 2.02) (< at the 3.01 limit for non-inferiority) for ACLrep and 2.21 (to 2.46) for ACLrec, p = 0.147. Therefore, non-inferiority was provenConclusion:In acute knee instability resulting from a combined ACL and ALL injury, direct repair is non-inferior in terms of PROM and knee laxity compared to standard ACL + LET reconstruction in 2 years.

Reliability of a Novel Automatic Knee Arthrometer for Measuring Knee Laxity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures.

Background:The accuracy of existing devices for measuring knee laxity is adversely affected by examiner reliability.Purpose:To compare the accuracy of a novel automatic knee arthrometer (AKA) to that of the KT-2000 arthrometer for measuring knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:We measured anterior displacement and the anterior displacement difference (ADD) at 134 N of anterior force in 221 healthy volunteers and 200 patients with ACL ruptures. All trials were performed by the same 2 examiners. We first analyzed the effects of examiner, side assessed, and device type using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), t test, and F test. We then used the receiver operating characteristic curve to compare the diagnostic value of the measurements between devices.Results:In repeated measurements for a single healthy volunteer, there were no differences in the variance of the measurements between sides according to the AKA (standard deviation of right vs left knee for examiner A: 0.43 vs 0.58 mm, respectively [P = .39]; for examiner B: 0.49 vs 0.77 mm, respectively [P = .81]), while the KT-2000 measurements showed differences (standard deviation of right vs left knee for examiner A: 1.47 vs 0.80 mm, respectively [P = .02]; for examiner B: 1.78 vs 0.91 mm, respectively [P = .01]). The ADD assessed by the AKA was not significantly different between examiners A and B (0.50 vs 0.75 mm, respectively; P = .27; ICC = 0.83), but the KT-2000 showed a difference (1.07 vs 2.01 mm, respectively; P = .01; ICC = 0.55). The ADD of 20 healthy volunteers assessed by the AKA was less than that by the KT-2000 (0.98 vs 1.41 mm, respectively; P = .04). When comparing the diagnostic value of the 2 devices in the sample of 200 patients with ACL ruptures and 200 healthy controls, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the AKA was larger than that for the KT-2000 (0.93 vs 0.87, respectively; P ≤ .01), and the threshold values were 1.75 and 2.73 mm, respectively.Conclusion:The AKA can be used to determine the degree of knee laxity in ACL injuries and to provide indications for treatment.

Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Clinical Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:Many studies have documented the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) alongside anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in the management of ACL injury, but evidence on the benefits of PRP in improving the clinical outcomes of ACLR is inconsistent.Purpose:To help in our understanding, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of PRP on patient-reported functional scores, the clinical assessments of knee function and structure, and complications.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1.Methods:We searched 9 online databases for RCTs published in English or Chinese that examined the effects of PRP on ACLR. The primary outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. The secondary outcomes included KT-1000 arthrometer, pivot-shift test, Lysholm and Tegner scores, tunnel widening, graft characterization, and complications. Subgroup analyses were performed according to time of assessments. Fixed- and random-effects models were selected for data analysis.Results:A total of 14 studies were included. When PRP was injected to graft tunnels, the pooled VAS scores of the 2 groups were similar (P = .31), and the subgroup analysis found that VAS and IKDC only improved at 3 months postoperatively (P = .0003 and P < .00001, respectively). When PRP was used at the bone–patellar tendon–bone harvest sites, VAS was decreased in the first 6 months postoperatively (P < .00001), whereas IKDC score was not remarkably different (P = .07). After PRP injection, Lysholm scores at 3 months postoperatively was different between the 2 groups (P < .00001), but the Tegner scores (P = .86), KT-1000 measurements (P = .12), the positive rate of pivot-shift test (P = .64), the enlargement of tunnels (femoral, P = .91; tibial, P = .80), and the characterization of grafts (P = .05) were not different. No difference in complications was found in either group.Conclusion:PRP applied alongside ACLR could reduce postoperative pain and improve knee function in the short and medium terms but is ineffective in the long term. PRP does not improve knee stability and the enlargement of tunnels and does not accelerate the healing of grafts. Further studies would be required.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Patellar Tendon Autograft Fixation at 0° Versus 30° Results in Improved Activity Scores and a Greater Proportion of Patients Achieving the Minimal Clinical Important Difference For Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of the knee flexion angle (KFA) during tibial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft fixation on patient-reported outcomes, graft stability, extension loss, and reoperation after anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction. All 169 included patients (mean age 28.5 years, 65% male) were treated with anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft and were randomized to tibial fixation of the ACL graft at either 0° (n= 85) or 30° (n= 84). The primary outcome was the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 2 years after surgery. Secondary outcomes were the Marx Activity Scale (MAS), the rate of reoperation, and physical examination findings at 1 year, including KT-1000 and side-to-side differences in knee extension. The follow-up rate was 82% (n= 139) for the primary outcome. Graft failure rate at 2 years was 1% (n= 2, 1 per group). ACL tibial graft fixation at 0° or 30° did not have a significant effect on KOOS scores at 2 years after ACLR. Patients whose graft was fixed at a knee flexion angle of 0° had greater scores on the MAS (mean 9.6 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.5 to 10.6, versus 8.0, 95% CI 6.9 to 9.1; P= .04), and a greater proportion achieved the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) for the KOOS pain subdomain (94% versus 81%; P= .04). There was no significant difference in knee extension loss, KT-1000 measurements, or reoperation between the 2 groups. In the setting of anatomic single-bundle ACLR using patellar tendon autograft and anteromedial portal femoral drilling, there was no difference in KOOS scores between patients fixed at 0° and 30°. Patient fixed in full extension did demonstrate higher activity scores at 2 years after surgery and a greater likelihood of achieving the MCID for KOOS pain. II, prospective randomized trial.

Outcomes of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in enhancing tendon-graft healing in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an exploratory study

BackgroundThe study investigated whether allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) could be safely used without treatment-related adverse events, reducing tunnel enlargement, and improve clinical results in human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.MethodsThirty patients were enrolled consecutively. They were divided into three groups by randomization. In the negative control group, ACL reconstruction surgery without additional treatment was performed. In the experimental group, a hUCB-MSC and hyaluronic acid mixture was applied to the tendon-bone interface of the femoral tunnels during ACL reconstruction surgery. In the positive control group, only hyaluronic acid was applied. Finally, 27 patients were analyzed after the exclusion of three patients. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events, clinical outcomes, including second-look arthroscopic findings, and the amount of tunnel enlargement, were evaluated.ResultsThere were no treatment-related adverse events in the treatment groups. Tunnel enlargement in the experimental group (579.74 ± 389.85 mm3) was not significantly different from those in the negative (641.97 ± 455.84 mm3) and positive control (421.96 ± 274.83 mm3) groups (p = 0.6468). There were no significant differences between the groups in clinical outcomes such as KT-2000 measurement (p = 0.793), pivot shift test (p = 0.9245), International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score (p = 0.9195), Tegner activity level (p = 0.9927), and second-look arthroscopic findings (synovial coverage of the graft, p = 0.7984; condition of the graft, p = 0.8402).ConclusionsAllogeneic hUCB-MSCs were used safely for ACL reconstruction without treatment-related adverse event in a 2-year follow-up. However, our study did not suggest any evidence to show clinical advantage such as the prevention of tunnel enlargement postoperatively and a decrease in knee laxity or improvement of clinical outcomes.Trial registrationCRIS, Registration Number: KCT0000917. Registered on 12 November 2013; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index.jsp