Performing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Research Articles

Dry Knee Arthroscopy With Carbon Dioxide Insufflation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are commonly treated through orthopaedic surgery, with traditional procedures relying on arthroscopy using fluid as the medium. However, dry arthroscopy has emerged as a potentially advantageous alternative technique. This method allows the knee joint to remain dry, reducing the risk of fluid leakage and enabling a more precise surgical visualization, resulting in shorter operation times and fewer complications. Recent research has highlighted the benefits of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during ACL reconstruction, which can decrease pain and discomfort during early recovery. This article introduces a technique for performing ACL reconstruction that eliminates the need for arthroscopic fluid for visualization or instrumentation. Based on CO2 insufflation, this technique shows promise as a viable alternative to traditional fluid distention methods.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes between All-inside and Standard Technique in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with 6-strand Hamstring Tendon Autograft.

All-inside and standard techniques with 4-strand hamstrings graft have been widely used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, the graft diameter of less than 8 mm will significantly increase the rate of surgical failure, and the 6-strand graft can solve this problem. The purpose of this study is to compare all-inside ACL reconstruction using suspensory cortical button fixation on both tibia and femur with standard ACL reconstruction using suspensory femoral fixation and a bioabsorbable tibial interference screw with a 6-strand hamstring tendon autograft in postoperative clinical outcomes. From January 2020 to December 2020, 48 patients performed ACL reconstruction were divided into the all-side group and the standard group according to the different surgical techniques. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subjective function scores was used to assess clinical outcomes at least 24 months following ACL reconstruction. MRI was used to measure the value of bone tunnel widening in articular and middle portions. Subjective function scores included the Lysholm knee score, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, the Knee Society Score (KSS) for pain and function, and KT-1000. The t-test was used assuming the distribution of the patients which follows the normal distribution and we used non-parametric tests if these two conditions were not satisfied. At the final follow-up, there were 22 patients in the all-inside group and 24 patients in the standard group. No significant differences were found with respect to femoral tunnel widening and subjective function scores. However, a significant increase in tibial tunnel widening was found in the middle portion of the standard group (2.25 ± 0.74) compared to the all-inside group (0.76 ± 0.24) (p < 0.01) and also in the articular portion of the standard group (2.07 ± 0.77) compared to the all-inside group (1.52 ± 0.54) (p = 0.02). In addition, the value of the KT-1000 was 1.81 ± 0.45 for the all-inside group and 2.12 ± 0.44 in the standard group (p = 0.016). The objective stability of the knee was relatively better in the all-inside group than in the standard group. And tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction was significantly greater in the standard technique when compared to the all-inside technique on the tibia side.

Pain assessment after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft: quadrupled m.semitendinosus versus m.semitendinosusand m.gracilis

Anteriorcruciate ligament (ACL) tear is one of the most common sports injuries. The all-inside technique (AIT) for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is gaining popularity as a more anatomic, less invasive technique with the potential for more rapid recovery. With the recent advances in the field of sports medicine, the all-inside technique is reported to have less postoperative pain as compared to the conventional transportable procedure. The purpose of this research is to determine the differences in acute pain levels between undergoing ACL reconstruction hamstring autograft m. semitendinosusand m.gracilis versus hamstring autograft quadrupled m.semitendinosus in first and second postoperative day. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 patients in period of two years who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using either HS autograft m.semitendinosusand m.gracilis or HS autograft quadrupled m.semitendinosus consented to participate. The primary outcome of the study was postoperative pain levels that were collected after surgery at first and second day. For the quantification of the intensity of pain after the surgery the patients were offered a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS scale), numbered from 0 to 10 (0 means no pain, 10 is the strongest pain). This part of the research shows the results obtained by processing patients with ACL, treated at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in the City General Hospital "8th of September" in Skopje. Results: The average postoperative score one day after surgery for patients with a standard method using a graft in the form of a duplication of m.semitendinosus and m.gracilis based on the VAS scale was 7.70 +0.9 and the score second day after surgery was 4.75 + 1.1.The average postoperative score a day after the surgery for patients treated with the method where only m.semitendinosus is used as a graft and that in the form of quadruplicationbased on the VAS scale was 3.90 +3.1and the score second day after surgery was 2.70 +2.7. Conclusion: A significant reduction in acute postoperative pain was found when performing ACL reconstruction with HS quadrupledm.semitendinosus compared to HS m.semitendinosus-m.gracilis.

Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis Staple Risks Penetration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Tunnel

To identify the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral tunnel penetration with the use of a staple for lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) graft fixation and to determine whether this varied between 2 different techniques for ACL femoral tunnel drilling. Twenty paired, fresh-frozen, cadaver knees underwent ACL reconstruction with a LET. Left and right knees were randomized to ACL reconstruction with femoral tunnel creation by use of either a rigid guide pin and reamer through the accessory anteromedial portal or by the use of a flexible guide pin and reamer through the anteromedial portal. Immediately after tunnel creation, the LET was performed and fixated with a small Richard's staple. Fluoroscopy was used to obtain a lateral view of the knee to determine staple position, and visualization of the ACL femoral tunnel was performed with the arthroscope to investigate penetration of the staple into the femoral tunnel. The Fisher exact test was conducted to determine whether there was any difference in tunnel penetration between tunnel creation techniques. The staple was noted to penetrate the ACL femoral tunnel in 8 of 20 (40%) extremities. When stratified by tunnel creation technique, the Richards staple violated 5 of 10 (50%) of the tunnels made via the rigid reaming technique compared with 3 of 10 (30%) of those created with a flexible guide pin and reamer (P= .65). A high incidence of femoral tunnel violation is seen with lateral extra-articular tenodesis staple fixation. Level IV, controlled laboratory study. The risk of penetrating the ACL femoral tunnel with a staple for LET graft fixation is not well understood. Yet, the integrity of the femoral tunnel is important for the success of ACL reconstruction. Surgeons can use the information in this study to consider adjustments to operative technique, sequence, or fixation devices used when performing ACL reconstruction with concomitant LET to avoid the potential for disruption of ACL graft fixation.

A quadruple peripheral nerve block outside the OR for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction reduces the OR occupancy time.

The use of regional anesthesia (RA) for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction reduces morphine consumption, the time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and the hospital readmission rate. However, RA failures due to delays in the induction of anesthesia and its unpredictable success rate (Cuvillon et al. Ann Fr Anesth 29:710-715, 2010; Jankowski et al. Anesth Analg 10.1213/01.ANE.0000081798.89853.E7) can lead to disorganization of the operating room (OR) schedule. The hypothesis is that performing RA outside the OR will significantly reduce the OR occupancy time relative to using general anesthesia (GA). The primary objective was to compare the OR occupancy time between RA and GA when performing ACL reconstruction. This was a retrospective, single-center study of data collected prospectively from consecutive patients operated by a single surgeon between January 2019 and December 2020. The patients undergoing ACL reconstruction were divided into two groups based on the type of anesthesia they received (GA, RA). RA consisted of a quadruple peripheral nerve block (femoral, sciatic, obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves). The durations of the perioperative stages of the patient's journey in the OR suite were compared between these two groups. The analysis involved 469 ACL reconstructions: 356 GA and 113 RA. The two groups were comparable in age, gender and ASA score (American Society of Anesthesiologists). The OR occupancy time for ACL reconstruction with RA was reduced by a mean of 13min (70 ± 12 SD vs. 83 ± 14 SD; P < 0.0001) and the PACU time by 41min relative to GA (P < 0.0001). The entry-incision time was reduced by an average of 8min and the end-exit time by 3min (P < 0.0001). The care time in the PACU was reduced from 84 ± 35 to 46 ± 26min (P < 0.0001). However, performing anesthesia outside the OR (i.e., in a RA block room) did not reduce the turnover time (n.s). Performing RA outside the OR reduced the OR occupancy time by nearly 20% relative to using GA for ACL reconstructions. Level IV.

Core techniques and adverse events in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a new generation of artificial ligaments: the consensus of Chinese specialists based on a modified Delphi method (Part 2)

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a new generation of artificial ligaments (NGAL) gained popularity in China owing to its good effectiveness and early functional recovery, but iatrogenic surgical failures and preconceived misconceptions have seriously affected its standardized clinical application. A specialist consensus is now developed to provide guidance and reference for orthopaedic sports medicine doctors when adopting or considering the NGAL for ACL reconstruction. The consensus on the core techniques and adverse events in ACL reconstruction using the NGAL was developed by a modified Delphi method, referring exclusively to the NGAL for ACL reconstruction approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Consensus specialists were selected from the members of the Chinese Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CAOS) and the Chinese Society of Sports Medicine (CSSM). The drafting team summarized the draft consensus terms based on medical evidence and organized rounds of investigation: two rounds of online questionnaire investigation and the final round of face-to-face meeting. After discussion, revision, and voting, a consensus on the draft consensus term was reached when the agreement rate exceeded 85%. The consensus terms were categorized as "strong" (agreement rate: 95.0%-100%), "moderate" (agreement rate: 90.0%-94.9%), and "basic" (agreement rate: 85.0%-89.9%). Thirty-one specialists completed the questionnaire investigation. They all practiced in university teaching hospitals (Grade-A tertiary hospitals) from 16 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Among them, 28 were chief physicians and 3 were associate chief physicians; 22 were professors and 7 were associate professors; the average seniority in orthopedic sports medicine was 25.2 years (range, 12-40 years); the average seniority in performing ACL reconstruction procedures was 13.2 years (range, 7-23 years); in terms of the number of ACL reconstruction using the NGAL, 18 completed more than 100 cases, of which 6 had more than 300 cases; in terms of research, 28 had published more than 1 related paper in the past 5 years, of which 13 had published more than 3 related papers. Twenty-six specialists attended the face-to-face meeting and reached a consensus on 9 terms, including 8 strong terms and 1 moderate term. ACL reconstruction using the NGAL must deploy "isometric" or "near-isometric" reconstruction and should preserve the natural ACL remnants as much as possible. Bone tunnel positioning can be performed using intraoperative radiographic measurements or the lateral femoral intercondylar ridge as reference marks. Incorrect positioning of the bone tunnel is the main reason of surgical failure, and there is a lack of consensus on handling interference screws during revision. Bone tunnel enlargement exists after reconstruction but rarely causes related symptoms. Synovitis and infection are uncommon complications. The aging effect of polyethylene terephthalate fiber on the long-term clinical outcomes is unknown and deserves attention.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Suture Tape Internal Brace Reinforcement of Soft Tissue Allografts for ACL Reconstruction Using a Porcine Model.

Background:Internal bracing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery is a newer concept gaining popularity.Purpose/Hypothesis:To assess the biomechanical performance of soft tissue ACL reconstruction allografts reinforced with suture tape. It was hypothesized that load to failure would increase and cyclic displacement would decrease at time zero in the constructs reinforced with internal brace suture tape compared with those without suture tape augmentation.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:We performed ACL reconstruction on porcine knees using bovine extensor tendon soft tissue allografts: 10 knees without (control) and 10 knees with (reinforced) suture tape reinforcement. An all-inside reconstruction technique was utilized with retrograde tunnel creation. An adjustable-loop device was used for femoral and tibial fixation of all grafts. The suture tape was placed through the tension loop in the femoral fixation construct and independently fixed in the tibia with an interference screw anchor. For each specimen, the authors recorded ultimate load, yield load, stiffness, cyclic displacement, and mode of failure. Outcomes between groups were compared using the Student t test.Results:There was a 33% decrease in mean cyclic displacement in the specimens with reinforced grafts (reinforced vs control: 3.9 ± 0.7 vs 5.8 ± 1.5 mm; P = .001). The reinforced grafts also had a 22% higher mean ultimate load (921 ± 180 vs 717 ± 122 N; P = .008) and a 25% higher mean yield load (808 ± 201 vs 602 ± 155 N; P = .020). There was no significant difference in stiffness between the reinforced versus nonreinforced grafts (136 ± 16 vs 132 ± 18 N/mm; P = .617). Three of the 10 control specimens failed at the graft, compared with 1 of 10 reinforced grafts. All other constructs in both groups failed at the tibial fixation site.Conclusion:Suture tape reinforcement of soft tissue grafts significantly decreased cyclic displacement while significantly increasing ultimate and yield loads without increasing graft construct stiffness during biomechanical testing at time zero in a porcine animal model.Clinical Relevance:The improved biomechanical performance of suture tape–reinforced graft constructs could allow patients to participate in earlier advancement of aggressive rehabilitation and potentially reduce failure rates as graft remodeling progresses.

EVALUATION OF ARTHROSCOPIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION USING BONE-PATELLAR TENDON-BONE GRAFT

AIM- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is most common injured ligament in the knee joint. Surgical management of ACL rupture is technically demanding as improper reconstruction can lead to an unstable joint. The aim of present study was to nd out the outcome of Arthroscopic reconstruction of ACLusing Bone patellar tendon bone (BPTB) graft. METHOD – It is a retrospective observational study where arthroscopic reconstruction of ACLwas done over a period of 5 years. IKDC score was applied to nd out the outcome of surgery. Strict post operative rehabilitation regime was followed. RESULT- After evaluation of 25 cases, 60% (15cases) showed very good outcome, 36%(9 cases) showed good outcome and 4% (1 case) showed poor outcome. Implant related local irritation is seen in 2 patients and low grade infection was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSION – Majority of the patients were satised with the result so it is purposeful to perform ACL reconstruction arthroscopically using BPTB graft.

Time from Injury Is the Key Predictor of Meniscal Injury in ACL-Deficient Knees.

The meniscus is one of the most important structures of the knee that needs to be saved if possible. Previous studies showed that increasing time from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (TFI) could lead to a meniscal tear, especially medial meniscus (MM). We developed the present study to see if the TFI alone is a predictor of meniscal injury in ACL-deficient knees. We included 111 patients who had a reconstructed ACL injury at our institution from March 2015 to March 2016 in this retrospective cohort study. All demographic data, including age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. We also recorded the mechanism of injury and the TFI. We extracted the meniscal condition at the time of surgery from the surgical report. All patients were followed up for a mean of 23 months, and the Lysholm score and pain visual analog scale (VAS) score were obtained. The mean TFI of patients with MM tear was 17.4 ± 16.8 months, which was significant than the patients with lateral meniscal (LM) tear (9.3 ± 8.3 months) and intact meniscus (7.4 ± 8.1 months) (p = 0.001). Patients with TFI less than 6 months had a significantly lower rate of MM tear, and increasing TFI more than 6 months could increase the rate of MM tear (p = 0.001). We could not find any association between age, BMI, and gender and meniscal injury. At the latest follow-up, Lysholm and VAS scores in patients with and without meniscal tear were the same. Our study confirms that increasing time from the ACL injury would increase the risk of MM damage. The cutoff point for this risk factor is 6 months from initial injury; therefore, to save the meniscus, it might be better to perform ACL reconstruction within 6 months in ACL-deficient knees.

Prevalence, Development, and Factors Associated with Cyst Formation after Meniscal Repair with the All-Inside Suture Device

Aims and Objectives:The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cyst formation as a complication of all-inside meniscal suture device using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analyze the risk factors.Materials and Methods:Of the patients who had undergone meniscal repair surgery 46 cases (46 knees) were selected to be in the case-control study. 51 menisci (34 medial menisci, 17 lateral menisci) of 46 cases were included to the study. Out of 51 menisci, 46 menisci combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and had performed ACL reconstruction (ACLR). 5 cases (5 menisci) had been performed meniscal repair (MR). MRIs of the knee were performed 6, 12 and 24 months post-meniscal surgery. The MRIs were examined to detect the new development of cysts encasing the suture anchors and evaluate meniscal healing. Univariate and multivariate risk factor analyses was used to account for the suture technique (suture device alone versus suture device and inside-out suture repair), concurrent operation (MR alone versus MR with ACL reconstruction), patient gender, medial versus lateral menisci, number of device use, side-to-side difference of knee arthrometer, type of anchor (acetal resin versus PEEK material) and clinical scores (Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, IKDC score).Results:MRI examinations revealed cyst formation in 15 of 51 menisci. 3 menisci were detected cyst formation at 6 months of surgery, 9 at 12 months and 3 at 24 months. Only 3 patients (6.5%) were symptomatic. Tecxhniques using suture device alone was more likely to develop cysts: odds ratio (OR) was 10.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25 to 91.41). Medial meniscus statistically tended to develop cyst compared with lateral meniscus and OR was 7.92 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 to 51.07). Patients who have instability (side-to-side difference of knee arthrometer > 3mm) are more likely to develop cysts than that ofless than or equal to 3mm (p = 0.06).Conclusion:This study revealed the risk factors and prevalence rate for cyst formation after using the all-inside meniscal suture device. The prevalence rate of cyst formation around suture implant was 29%, however most cases didn’t have any symptoms. Suture device only and medial meniscus were significant risk factors for cyst formation. Knee instability was greater in the cyst developed menisci though it was not significant, which suggested that knee instability could affect cyst formation around suture anchors.

Does Bone Plug and Graft Orientation (Inferior Versus Posterior) Alter Native Femoral Footprint Coverage in Bone Patellar Tendon Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

The purpose of this study was to compare the percentage of native femoral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) footprint covered by the 2 most clinically relevant bone plug/graft orientations used with interference screw fixation in ACL reconstruction. A secondary purpose was to assess whether a transtibial or tibia-independent drilling technique would affect this outcome. Five matched pairs of cadaver knees were used. Each matched pair had 1 knee assigned to a 10-mm femoral socket prepared via a transtibial (TT) drilling technique and the other via an anteromedial (AM) drilling technique. The bone plug of each graft was press-fitted into the femoral socket with the graft collagen in 2 distinct clinically relevant orientations (collagen inferior or posterior). The digitized graft collagen cross-sectional area(CSA) in each orientation was overlaid onto the native femoral ACL footprint CSA to generate a percentage of native ACL footprint covered by graft collagen. The average native ACL femoral footprint CSA was 110.5 ± 9.1 mm2, with no difference between knees assigned to TT or AM drilling (112.6 ± 2.7 vs 108.4 ± 13.0 mm2, P=.49). The average femoral socket CSA was 95.4 ± 8.7 mm2, with no difference between TT and AM tunnels (95.5 ± 9.9 vs 95.3 ± 8.4 mm2, P= .96). There was no difference between the percentage of native footprint covered between TT and AM sockets (76.8% ± 7.8% vs 82.2% ± 13.7%, P= .47). Irrespective of drilling technique, there was significantly greater native ACL footprint covered by graft collagen when the bone plug was oriented with graft collagen inferior rather than posterior (75.6% ± 6.3% vs 65.4% ± 11.4%, P= .02). Orienting the femoral bone plug such that the graft collagen is inferior rather than posterior significantly increases native ACL femoral footprint coverage in bone-patellar tendon-bone ACL reconstruction. This effect is consistent across AM and TT drilling techniques. Surgeons attempting to restore an anatomic ACL footprint should consider bone plug-graft orientation when performing ACL reconstruction. Controlled laboratory study.

Intraoperative fluoroscopy reduces the variability in femoral tunnel placement during single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

To evaluate the effect of using intraoperative fluoroscopy on femoral and tibial tunnel positioning variability in single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A total of 80 consecutive patients with single-bundle ACL reconstruction between 2014 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 40 underwent ACL reconstruction without fluoroscopy (non-fluoroscopy group) and 40 underwent fluoroscopy-assisted ACL reconstruction (fluoroscopy group). Femoral and tibial tunnel locations were evaluated using a standardized grid system with three-dimensional computed tomography images. Femoral and tibial tunnel location variability was compared between the groups. The operation time was longer in the fluoroscopy group than in the non-fluoroscopy group (61.3 ± 5.2min vs. 55.5 ± 4.5min, p < 0.001). In the fluoroscopy group, a guide pin was repositioned in 16 (40%) cases on the femoral side and 2 (5%) cases on the tibial side. No significant difference in the femoral tunnel location was observed between the fluoroscopy and non-fluoroscopy groups (anterior-posterior plane, 29.0% ± 3.2% vs. 30.0% ± 6.1%; proximal-distal plane, 30.8% ± 4.8% vs. 29.4% ± 8.3%; all parameters, n.s.); variability was significantly lower in the fluoroscopy group (p < 0.001 for both anterior-posterior and proximal-distal planes). No significant difference in the tibial tunnel location and variability was observed between the fluoroscopy and non-fluoroscopy groups (medial-lateral plane, 45.8% ± 2.0% vs. 46.6% ± 2.4%; anterior-posterior plane, 31.2% ± 4.0% vs. 31.0% ± 5.4%) (all parameters, n.s.). Tunnel positioning with fluoroscopic assistance is feasible and effective in achieving consistency in femoral tunnel placement despite a slightly longer operation time. Intraoperative fluoroscopy can be helpful in cases wherein identifying anatomical landmarks on arthroscopy was difficult or for surgeons with less experience who performed ACL reconstruction. IV.

Impact of Surgical Timing on Clinical Outcomes in Anatomic Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Hamstring Tendon Autografts.

Background:To date, no studies have analyzed the influence on clinical outcomes of the interval between an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and double-bundle (DB) reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts.Hypotheses:(1) Performing ACL reconstruction sooner after an injury will reduce postoperative anterior and rotatory knee instability, (2) postoperative range of knee motion or functional results will not be affected by different intervals between injury and surgery, and (3) preoperative isokinetic peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles will be lower in patients undergoing surgery earlier, while postoperative muscle strength will not be affected by surgery timing.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:This study was conducted on a total of 171 patients who had undergone anatomic DB ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the time to surgery: (1) ≤1 month after the injury (group E; n = 25), (2) between 1 and 3 months after the injury (group M; n = 72), and (3) >3 months after the injury (group D; n = 74). Patients were assessed for a minimum of 2 years after surgery.Results:Concerning postoperative anterior laxity, 1-way analysis of variance demonstrated a significant difference (P = .0274) among the 3 groups. Anterior laxity was significantly less in group E than in group D (P = .0206). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed a significant correlation (ρ = 0.200; P = .0327) between anterior knee laxity and time to surgery. Also, a significant correlation (P = .0461) was found between the degree of the pivot-shift phenomenon and time to surgery. There were no significant differences in loss of knee extension or flexion among the 3 groups, nor were there any differences in the Lysholm knee score or International Knee Documentation Committee grade. Postoperatively, there were no significant differences in peak torque of the quadriceps or hamstring muscles among the 3 groups.Conclusion:Early DB reconstruction led to significantly less anterior laxity compared with delayed reconstruction. There were no significant differences in postoperative range of knee motion or functional results among the 3 time intervals between injury and surgery in this study.

Iliotibial band autograft: what size is the graft? A mathematical and cadaveric model : ITB single and double strand size.

The iliotibial band (ITB) is used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in skeletally immature patients as well as several other orthopedic reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to determine the size of the ITB as an autograft option in ACL reconstruction surgery or other orthopedic soft tissue reconstructions. Five adult cadavers resulting in nine ITB were used. Thickness and width of the ITB were determined. Using ITB width of 15-60mm, single and doubled graft sizes were determined using standard surgical graft size technique. Geometric calculations based on average graft thickness were used to mathematically confirm the graft size of the ITB. The ITB is less than 1mm in thickness in males and females. Cadaveric measurements were less than 1mm larger than mathematical measurements, in majority of measurements. ITB autograft can be harvested to a maximum 9mm single-stranded graft or > 12mm doubled graft. A minimum of 50mm of ITB width is required to make a 8mm graft. ITB is a versatile graft that can be used for a graft size up to 9mm single strand and over 12mm double strand. A minimum of 50mm width of ITB is required to obtain a 8mm-diameter autograft. To ensure appropriate graft size, surgeons should consider harvesting the maximum amount of ITB when performing ACL reconstructions in skeletally immature patients. Surgeons have a quick reference for the width of ITB they should harvest based on the size of graft they require for a successful surgery.

Current Trends Among US Surgeons in the Identification, Treatment, and Time of Repair for Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions at the Time of ACL Surgery.

Background:Given the potential hidden nature of medial meniscal ramp lesions and the controversy regarding treatment, it is important to understand the current trends regarding the identification and treatment strategies of meniscal ramp lesions by the leading surgeons and educators in the field of sports medicine.Purpose:To better understand the current trends in orthopaedic surgery regarding arthroscopic identification and treatment of medial meniscal ramp lesions at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Methods:An electronic questionnaire was sent in a blinded fashion to 91 directors of orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship training programs in the United States. Participants’ email addresses were obtained through the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine directory of current fellowship program directors. Inclusion criteria were only those surgeons who currently performed ACL reconstruction surgery. Exclusion criteria were those surgeons who did not perform ACL reconstruction or who chose to opt out of the survey.Results:Overall, 19 surgeons opted out of the survey; 36 responded from the remaining 72 surveys (50%). The majority (n = 31, 86%) reported routinely checking for a medial meniscal ramp lesion via inspection of the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction during an ACL reconstruction. The most common repair technique cited was all-inside (n = 24, 66.7%), followed by inside-out (n = 8, 22.2%). Three (8%) surgeons indicated that they did not repair meniscal ramp lesions. Regarding surgical treatment (repair vs no treatment), the majority reported using the extent of the tear (89%; partial vs full thickness) and the stability of the tear upon probing (81%) as the main criteria for intraoperative decision making. Nineteen (52.8%) surgeons required a mean time of <15 minutes for meniscal ramp repair; 16 surgeons (44.4%), 15 to 30 minutes; and 1 surgeon (2.8%), 30 to 45 minutes.Conclusion:This study provides insight regarding meniscal ramp tear identification, treatment, and repair strategies from the fellowship directors of sports medicine orthopaedic surgery in the United States. Such information may be useful for current orthopaedic surgeons to advance their practice according to the current trends surrounding ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair.

Femoral Nerve Blockade versus Adductor Canal Nerve Blockade with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives:Post-operative pain control is critical to successful outcomes following outpatient anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Femoral nerve blockade (FNB) has traditionally been employed to provide analgesia for ACLR since its inception in the early 1990’s. Recent studies, however, suggest a significant reduction in quadriceps muscle strength, and increased fall risk with the use of FNB. To mitigate the loss in muscle function and patient safety, surgeons and anesthesiologists have recently been exploring the potential benefits of a motor sparing adductor canal nerve blockade (ACB). To date, however, few comparative studies exist within an ACL reconstruction population to determine its clinical utility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare acute pain control, quadriceps muscle activation and patient function between FNB and ACB following ACL reconstruction out to 4 weeks.Methods:One-hundred and twenty-three patients (ACB, n = 63 and FNB, n= 60) undergoing ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon (WRL) were recruited to participate in this study. Patient demographics were similar for age (28.3 ±11.1 vs 26.7 ±10.0; P =.68), gender (61.9% male vs % male; P =.17), and BMI (26 ±6 vs 27 ±8; P =.79) for ACB and FNB groups, respectively. Pain control was measured within the first 24 hours of surgery using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and opioid use in morphine units (mg). Quadriceps muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) and recorded as the deficit between the involved and uninvolved limbs (µV). Quadriceps function was clinically assessed by the number of straight leg raises performed (without a lag), and the ability to meet our criteria for ambulation without an assistive device at 24 hrs, 2 wks, and 4 wks postoperatively. A mixed-model ANOVA (group x time) was used for all statistical comparisons with an a priori α =.05.Results:There were no differences in NPRS score (2.4 ±1.7 vs 2.6 ±2.0; P =.52), and Morphine units (24.1 mg ±16.3 vs 22.8 mg ±15.6; P =.61) for ACB and FNB groups thru 24 hours post-surgery. Quadriceps muscle activation deficits were lower for the ACB group at each testing timeframe (Figure 1); 24 hours (196.2 µV ±21.0 vs 227.6 µV±23.7; P =.02), 2 weeks (87.3 µV ±19.5 vs 179.2 µV ±15.2; P <.01), and 4 weeks (56.4 µV ±18.3 vs 118.9 µV ±17.1; P =.02). The ability to meet criteria for ambulation without an assistive device was higher at 4 weeks for patients receiving ACB versus FNB (98.4% vs 90.0% ; P =.01). No statistical differences were observed for the number of straight leg raises performed at any timeframe (P >.05).Conclusion:The primary results of this study show that ACB provides similar pain control with improved quadriceps muscle activation compared to FNB acutely following ACL reconstruction. Additionally, the ability to ambulate without an assistive device appears to occur sooner for patients receiving ACB. No differences were observed in the number of straight leg raises performed up to 4 wks post-surgery. Surgeons should consider the potential benefits of ACB for post-operative analgesia when performing ACL reconstruction.

Pain Assessment After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Versus Hamstring Tendon Autograft.

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common outpatient procedure that is accompanied by significant postoperative pain.Purpose:To determine differences in acute pain levels between patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) versus hamstring tendon (HS) autograft.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A total of 70 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using either BTB or HS autografts consented to participate. The primary outcome of the study was postoperative pain levels (visual analog scale), which were collected immediately after surgery and for 3 days postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included opioid consumption (intravenous morphine equivalents), hours slept, patient satisfaction, reported breakthrough pain, and calls to the physician.Results:Patients treated with BTB had increased pain when compared with those treated with HS in the acute postoperative period (mean ± SD: day 0, 6.0 ± 1.7 vs 5.2 ± 2.0 [P = .066]; day 1, 5.9 ± 1.7 vs 4.9 ±1.7 [P = .024]; day 2, 5.2 ± 1.9 vs 4.1 ± 2.0 [P = .032]; day 3, 4.8 ± 2.1 vs 3.9 ± 2.3 [P = .151]). There were also significant increases in reported breakthrough pain (day 0, 76% vs 43% [P = .009]; day 1, 64% vs 35% [P = .003]) and calls to the physician due to pain (day 1, 19% vs 0% [P = .041]) in the BTB group. There were no significant differences in narcotic requirements or sleep disturbances. Overall, the BTB group reported significantly less satisfaction with pain management on days 0 and 1 (P = .024 and .027, respectively).Conclusion:A significant increase in acute postoperative pain was found when performing ACL reconstruction with BTB compared with HS. Patients treated with BTB were more likely to have breakthrough pain, decreased satisfaction with their pain management, and to contact their physician due to pain. These findings suggest a difference in early postoperative pain between the 2 most common graft options for ACL reconstruction. Patients should be informed of the differences in acute postoperative pain when deciding on graft choice with their physician.

Pretensioning of Soft Tissue Grafts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

To determine which preconditioning and pretensioning techniques should be applied to soft tissue grafts during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to avoid loss of tension after surgery, fresh semitendinosus and tibialis anterior tendons underwent tensile mechanical testing with 4 pretensioning and/or preconditioning techniques. A mechanical tester was used to collect the data. Group I (n=5) was given only an initial 80 N pull for tensioning, Group II (n=4) was given pretensioning and initial tensioning, Group III (n=5) was given cyclic tensioning and initial tensioning, and Group IV (n=5) was given a combination of the 3 techniques. Group I lost 50% of the initial tension at 30 minutes. The residual tension in Groups II, III, and IV was significantly higher than that in Group I after 1, 10, and 30 minutes (P<.001). Group IV consistently showed significantly higher residual tension than Groups II and III after 10 and 30 minutes (P<.05). All groups experienced elongation during testing: Group I (10.8 mm)<Group IV (14.6 mm)<Group III (15.6 mm)<Group II (16.6 mm), with significant differences observed between groups (P<.05). All experimental groups showed significantly greater stiffness than the control group (Group I) (P<.001). This study confirmed that pretensioning or preconditioning after 30 minutes leaves a graft with higher residual tension. Moreover, pretensioning and preconditioning had an additive effect and resulted in significantly greater retained tension than either method performed individually. A simple pull up to 80 N before fixation does not impart sufficient tension to a graft to prevent it from failing. The authors recommend that clinicians performing ACL reconstructions with soft tissue grafts precondition or pretension the tendons before final tibial fixation to achieve greater retained tension in the graft after placement.

Age-Dependent Healing Potential of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Remnant-Derived Cells

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) does not heal spontaneously after injury, and ACL patients of different ages respond differently to treatment. Although ACL-derived CD34-positive cells contribute to bone-tendon healing after ACL reconstruction, the relationship between the healing potential of ACL-derived cells and a patient’s age is unknown. Hypothesis: ACL-derived cells from young patients will have a greater effect on the maturation of bone-tendon integration in an immunodeficient rat model of ACL reconstruction compared with cells derived from older patients. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixty 10-week-old female immunodeficient rats underwent ACL reconstruction (using the autologous flexor digitorum longus tendon as a graft) followed by intracapsular administration of ACL-derived cells from patients aged 10 to 19 years (younger group) or patients aged 30 to 39 years (older group), or they were given phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; PBS group). Histologic, radiographic, and biomechanical examinations were performed 2 to 8 weeks after surgery. In addition, intrinsic and human cell–derived angiogenesis and osteogenesis were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: In the younger group, histologic assessment demonstrated early bone-tendon healing, which induced endochondral ossification-like integration. Micro–computed tomography showed a statistically significant reduction in the area of tibial bone tunnel in the younger group (week 4, 20.0% ± 11.2% reduction; week 8, 25.7% ± 5.6% reduction) compared with the older group (week 4, 1.8% ± 3.0% reduction; week 8, 4.0% ± 5.9% reduction) and the PBS group (week 4, –0.5% ± 3.2% reduction; week 8, 3.3% ± 5.2% reduction) (week 4, P < .05; week 8, P < .01). Failure loads during tensile testing demonstrated a significantly higher ultimate load to failure in the younger group (17.52 ± 4.01 N) compared with the older (8.05 ± 2.91 N) and PBS (7.01 ± 3.16 N) groups (P < .05), and isolectin B4 and rat osteocalcin immunostaining indicated enhanced intrinsic angiogenesis and osteogenesis in the younger group. There was no statistically significant difference in the results of radiographic and biomechanical examinations between the older and PBS groups. Double immunohistochemistry for human-specific endothelial cell and osteoblast markers demonstrated a greater ability of differentiation into endothelial cells and osteoblasts in the younger group. Conclusion: ACL-derived cells from younger patients enhanced early bone-tendon healing in an immunodeficient rat model of ACL reconstruction. Clinical Relevance: Surgeons should consider a patient’s age when performing ACL reconstruction with remnant preservation or ruptured tissue incorporation, as this can predict healing ability.

Meniscal repair techniques required for the surgeon performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common injury treated surgically by orthopedic specialists. There is a high incidence of concurrent meniscal injury that must be recognized and appropriately treated by the surgeon. The surgeon must be prepared to address the full spectrum of meniscal injuries with complex meniscal repair techniques when performing ACL reconstruction to decrease the likelihood of reoperation or postoperative symptoms for the patient.