Primary Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Research Articles

Eradication and graft retention can be achieved in the treatment for acute septic arthritis after primary posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: analysis of 1561 reconstructions.

Acute septic arthritis after arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction is a rare but severe complication. Optimal management has not been established. The purposes of this study were to analyze clinical findings and to retrospectively evaluate the graft-retaining treatment regimen. From 2010 to 2021, a total of 1561 primary PCL reconstructions were performed at our institution. Seven patients with septic arthritis were identified and retrospectively analyzed with regard to incidence, clinical manifestations, treatment, postoperative clinical course and follow-up results. The mean interval from PCL reconstruction to the onset of symptoms was 11.0 ± 4.0days. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly found pathogen. Eradication was achieved in all patients after a mean of 1.1 ± 0.4 procedures, with graft retention in all patients. The mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 5.7 ± 1.5weeks. At the last follow-up, there was no recurrence, graft insufficiency or osteoarthritis. Arthroscopic graft-retaining treatment combined with individual antibiotic therapy, eradication and good to excellent functional results can be achieved, which might encourage surgeons to try to retain the graft as much as possible. Level IV.

Hamstring, bone-patellar tendon-bone, quadriceps and peroneus longus tendon autografts for primary isolated posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review.

IntroductionSeveral autografts are available to reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).Source of dataCurrent scientific literature published in PubMed, Google scholar, Embase and Scopus.Areas of agreementHamstring, bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB), quadriceps and peroneus longus (PLT) are the most common tendon autografts used for primary isolated PCL reconstruction.Areas of controversyThe optimal tendon source for PCL reconstruction remains nevertheless debated. Identifying the most suitable tendon autograft could assist the surgeon during primary PCL reconstruction.Growing pointsThe present study compared the outcome of PCL reconstruction using hamstring, BPTB, quadriceps and PLT autografts. The focus was on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), joint laxity, range of motion and complications.Areas timely for developing researchAll autografts are viable options for PCL reconstruction, with BTB and hamstring autografts demonstrating superior PROMs. However, further clinical investigations are required to determine the ideal autograft construct.

Posterior Tibial Slope and Risk of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background: Recent biomechanical studies have identified sagittal plane posterior tibial slope as a potential risk factor for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury because of its effects on the kinematics of the native and surgically treated knee. However, the literature lacks clinical correlation between primary PCL injuries and decreased posterior tibial slope. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the amount of posterior tibial slope between patients with PCL injuries and age/sex-matched controls with intact PCLs. It was hypothesized that patients with PCL injuries would have a significantly decreased amount of posterior tibial slope when compared with patients without PCL injuries. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients who underwent primary PCL reconstruction without anterior cruciate ligament injury between 2010 and 2017 by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. Measurements of posterior tibial slope were performed with lateral radiographs of PCL-injured knees and matched controls without clinical or magnetic resonance imaging evidence of ligamentous injury. Mean values of posterior tibial slope were compared between the groups. Inter- and intrarater agreement was assessed for the tibial slope measurement technique via a 2-way random effects model to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: In sum, 104 patients with PCL tears met the inclusion criteria, and 104 controls were matched according to age and sex. There were no significant differences in age (P = .166), sex (P = .345), or body mass index (P = .424) between the PCL-injured and control groups. Of the PCL tear cohort, 91 patients (87.5%) sustained a contact mechanism of injury, while 13 (12.5%) reported a noncontact mechanism of injury. The mean ± SD posterior tibial slopes were 5.7°± 2.1° (95% CI, 5.3°-6.1°) and 8.6°± 2.2° (95% CI, 8.1°-9.0°) for the PCL-injured and matched control groups, respectively (P < .0001). Subgroup analysis of the PCL-injured knees according to mechanism of injury demonstrated significant differences in posterior tibial slope between noncontact (4.6°± 1.8°) and contact (6.2°± 2.2°) injuries for all patients with PCL tears (P = .013) and among patients with isolated PCL tears (P = .003). The tibial slope measurement technique was highly reliable, with an ICC of 0.852 for interrater reliability and an ICC of 0.872 for intrarater reliability. Conclusion: A decreased posterior tibial slope was associated with patients with PCL tears as compared with age- and sex-matched controls with intact PCLs. Decreased tibial slope appears to be a risk factor for primary PCL injury. However, further clinical research is needed to assess if decreased posterior tibial slope affects posterior knee stability and outcomes after PCL reconstruction.

Open reduction and internal fixation of isolated PCL fossa avulsion fractures

The study was aimed to share the experience of managing posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) avulsion fractures of tibia with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The study also evaluated the effect of delay in treatment and presence of occult PCL injury on the final outcome after surgery. Forty-two patients (30 males and 12 females) with a median age of 26 years (range: 14-53 years) who underwent ORIF through a modified posterior approach for PCL fossa avulsion fractures were assessed after a median follow up of 18 months (range 10-42 months). In 30 patients surgery was performed within 3 weeks of injury. Fifteen patients had an occult intrasubstance PCL tear as seen on MRI. Assessment of results was made using Hughston criteria. There was a statistically significant difference in the outcomes between acutely treated patients and patients with chronic injury. Although patients with acute fixation were found to fare better, the results were fair or good in majority of the patients (9 out of 12) with delayed presentation. Patients with occult injury to PCL had poorer outcomes and these results were found to be statistically significant. ORIF for PCL avulsion fractures of tibia results in stable fixation, early mobilization and good functional outcomes. Although ORIF done acutely leads to best clinical outcomes, a delay in presentation (>3 weeks) does not necessarily contraindicate ORIF. An occult injury to PCL usually leads to inferior outcomes and primary PCL reconstruction should be considered as a viable option in these patients.

Comparison of the Clinical Results of Three Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Techniques

Despite its technical complexity, arthroscopic tibial inlay reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament has biomechanical advantages over transtibial procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical results of arthroscopic tibial inlay single-bundle and double-bundle techniques with those of the conventional transtibial single-bundle technique. We evaluated twenty-nine patients treated with primary posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and followed for longer than two years. Eight patients were treated with a transtibial single-bundle procedure; eleven, with an arthroscopic inlay single-bundle procedure; and ten, with an arthroscopic inlay double-bundle procedure. An Achilles tendon allograft was used in all cases. Each patient was evaluated on the basis of the Lysholm knee score, the mean side-to-side difference in tibial translation as measured on Telos stress radiographs, and the side-to-side difference in the range of motion of the knee. The mean side-to-side difference (and standard deviation) in posterior tibial translation differed significantly between the arthroscopic tibial inlay double-bundle group (3.6 ± 1.43 mm) and the transtibial single-bundle group (5.6 ± 2.0 mm) (p = 0.023), although there was no significant difference between the arthroscopic inlay single-bundle group (4.7 ± 1.62 mm) and the transtibial group (p = 0.374). The mean range of motion and Lysholm scores were similar among the three groups. Despite its technical difficulty, the arthroscopic tibial inlay double-bundle technique is our preferred method of reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament because it stabilizes posterior tibial translation better than do the other two methods.

Comparison of the Clinical Results of Three Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Techniques

Despite its technical complexity, arthroscopic tibial inlay reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament has biomechanical advantages over transtibial procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical results of arthroscopic tibial inlay single-bundle and double-bundle techniques with those of the conventional transtibial single-bundle technique. We evaluated twenty-nine patients treated with primary posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and followed for longer than two years. Eight patients were treated with a transtibial single-bundle procedure; eleven, with an arthroscopic inlay single-bundle procedure; and ten, with an arthroscopic inlay double-bundle procedure. An Achilles tendon allograft was used in all cases. Each patient was evaluated on the basis of the Lysholm knee score, the mean side-to-side difference in tibial translation as measured on Telos stress radiographs, and the side-to-side difference in the range of motion of the knee. The mean side-to-side difference (and standard deviation) in posterior tibial translation differed significantly between the arthroscopic tibial inlay double-bundle group (3.6 +/- 1.43 mm) and the transtibial single-bundle group (5.6 +/- 2.00 mm) (p = 0.023), although there was no significant difference between the arthroscopic inlay single-bundle group (4.7 +/- 1.62 mm) and the transtibial group (p = 0.374). The mean range of motion and Lysholm scores were similar among the three groups. Despite its technical difficulty, the arthroscopic tibial inlay double-bundle technique is our preferred method of reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament because it stabilizes posterior tibial translation better than do the other two methods.

Clinical research for reason analysis of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction revision

To study and analyze the clinical factors contributing to the failure of primary posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction and to guide our clinical treatment. From November 2001 to May 2007, 8 patients underwent PCL reconstruction revision because of pathological instability after primary PCL reconstruction. And the clinical failure factors of the primary reconstruction were analyzed. One case was reconstructed with bone-patellar tendon-bone (B-T-B) autografts, 7 cases with hamstring tendon autograft. The most probable causes of failure were improper graft placement in 7 cases (both femoral bone tunnels were behind the predicted one and tibial tunnels were in front of the predicted one). The reconstructed PCL in 4 cases ruptured absolutely and had been absorbed. Three cases had obviously loosen but still partly linked reconstructed ligament. These 8 cases all received primary PCL revision reconstruction. Among them, 6 cases were reconstructed with autograft (using a single-bundle quadruple hamstring graft in 3 cases, double-bundle quadruple hamstring graft in 1 case, single-bundle B-T-B autograft in 2 case), and 2 cases were reconstructed with allograft (using a single-bundle and a double-bundle B-T-B allograft reconstruction). Incorrect bone tunnel placement is the major factor contributing to the surgical failure in many reasons for the failure of PCL reconstruction. So, it might be suggested that there is a great need for a more precise anatomical bone tunnel placement.

Minimally Invasive Quadriceps Tendon Harvest

Abstract Quadriceps tendon (QT) is becoming a popular graft for primary and revision ligament surgery. A subcutaneous technique for graft harvesting a QT is presented. Special closed tendon strippers were designed; these devices have 10- and 11-mm inner diameters and are stronger and sharper than regular hamstrings strippers. In the mid-line of the patellar upper pole, a 2-cm longitudinal incision is made, a 20- × 10-mm bone plug is created with an oscillating saw, and the tendon stripper is positioned and advanced into the thigh, dissecting the QT until the desired length, usually 10 cm, is obtained. The graft can be released by making a stab incision at the device’s tip or by ventrally pointing and turning the tendon stripper to amputate the graft’s end. The QT graft can be prepared in several fashions for 1- or 2-bundle ligament reconstructions. The technique was tested and refined in 3 cadaver specimens and has been used at our institution since 2003 in 18 primary posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with no problems. This minimally invasive technique is safe, provides a consistently good-quality graft with excellent cosmetic results, and is simple and easily reproducible.