Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tears Research Articles

THE RELATIONSHIP OF POSTERIOR TIBIAL SLOPE WITH CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS AND MENISCAL INJURIES BASED ON MRI– A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Purpose: Various studies show that the disparities in the posterior tibial slope can make native cruciate ligaments and the menisci susceptible to tears. This study is to determine the relationship between posterior tibial slope with the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries. Methods: A total of 72 subjects between 18 and 60 years having a history of traumatic knee pain were included in the study. All subjects were clinically examined, radiologically investigated, and the posterior tibial slope of the patients was calculated. Incidences of cruciate ligaments and menisci injury were identified. Results: In our study, the mean medial compartment posterior tibial slope and lateral compartment posterior tibial slope in all the Anterior Cruciate Ligament injured patients are 7.82 ± 2.56 and 10.53 ± 3.46. But in controls, it is 5.91 ± 4.49 and 6.24 ± 5.15, respectively. The differences are statistically significant ([Formula: see text]10). In cases with increased lateral Posterior Tibial Slope, more degeneration was seen in the lateral meniscus. Less Posterior Tibial Slope is associated with Posterior Cruciate Ligament tears. Conclusion: Anterior cruciate ligament is more prone to tears with a steeper posterior tibial slope. Lateral Meniscus tear is frequently associated with acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury and Medial Meniscus tear is predominantly associated with a chronic Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. A decreased posterior tibial slope is more often associated with patients with a posterior cruciate ligament injury and is considered a risk factor for native Posterior Cruciate Ligament.

Precision of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Detection of Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures and Subsequent Arthroscopic Correlations: An Investigation.

Objective The present study endeavors to scrutinize the precision of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic modality for detecting ligament disruption of the knee, with arthroscopy serving as the gold standard. The study delves into the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in a cohort of 200 patients against diagnostic arthroscopy. Methods Our institution conducted a comprehensive clinical examination of all patients with knee injuries, and those with affirmative findings suggestive of ligament disruption were subjected to an MRI scan. The study comprised 200 patients with MRI-confirmed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears, who subsequently underwent arthroscopy for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The results were subjected to various statistical tests to compare and analyze the outcomes. Results The study has demonstrated a remarkably high sensitivity and specificity, providing near-optimal accuracy for the diagnosis of ACL and PCL injuries via MRI compared with arthroscopy. Patients with affirmative MRI findings could proceed to undergo diagnostic/therapeutic arthroscopic procedures. Conclusion The study emphasizes the significance of MRI as a noninvasive and highly precise method for assessing ligament injuries in the knee. Although MRI can be used as a first-line investigation, it must be emphasized that arthroscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosing ACL and PCL tears. The current study recommends the use of MRI as a valuable screening tool in patients with suspected knee ligament disruption, with potential to reduce the number of diagnostic arthroscopies in patients with inconclusive clinical findings, thereby minimizing patient discomfort and healthcare costs.

Role of MRI in Evaluation of Post-Traumatic Knee Injuries: A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTIONThe knee joint is the largest and most complex joint in the human body. Therefore it is often affected by trauma. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality that provides detailed images of the soft tissue structures of the knee joint. The objective of this study was to evaluate MRI findings in patients with post-traumatic knee joint injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODSThis prospective study was carried out using a 3.0 Tesla MRI (Magnetom Lumina) scanner in the Department of Radiodiagno- sis and Medical Imaging at Universal College of Medical Sciences & Teaching Hospital, Bhairahawa, Nepal, involving 128 patients with knee injuries, from September 2023 to February 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTSIn this study of 128 participants, 57.81% were male and 42.19% were female, with a mean age of 38.60±13.05 years. The majority of MRI findings were medial meniscus tear (51.56%), followed by anterior cruciate ligament tear (46.09%), medial collateral ligament sprain (44.53%), lateral meniscus tear (39.84%), lateral collateral ligament sprain (33.59%), and posterior cruciate ligament tear (17.97%). Our study also revealed various grades of collateral ligament injuries, including the medial and lateral ligaments. There were 59.65% of cases with a grade I medial collateral ligament sprain, followed by grade II at 33.33% and grade III at 7.02%. The grade I and grade II lateral collateral ligament sprains were 62.79% and 37.21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONMRI is a non-invasive and valuable diagnostic modality that can provide an accurate diagnosis. It is often preferred over arthroscopy.

Decreased Posterior Tibial Slope and Its Association With Pediatric Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background: Recent adult studies have demonstrated that decreased posterior tibial slope angle (PTSA) may be a risk factor for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. However, there is no study investigating this phenomenon in a pediatric population. Understanding risk factors for PCL injuries among a pediatric population is important given the recent rise in athletic competition/specialization and sports-related injuries. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare PTSA between pediatric patients sustaining a primary PCL tear compared with age- and sex-matched controls. It was hypothesized that pediatric patients sustaining a PCL tear would have a decreased PTSA compared with controls, with decreased PTSA being associated with higher odds of PCL injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The records of all patients sustaining a PCL injury between 2006 and 2021 at a level 1 pediatric trauma center were reviewed. Patients aged ≤18 years with magnetic resonance imaging–confirmed PCL tear were included. Excluded were patients with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament tears, previous PCL reconstruction, or previous coronal plane realignment. A control cohort, with their ligament shown as intact on magnetic resonance imaging scans, was matched based on age and sex. PTSA was measured on lateral radiographs of the injured knee or tibia. The mean PTSA was compared between cohorts, and odds ratios were calculated based on the normal slope range (7°-10°) described in the literature, an upper range (>10°), and a lower range (<7°). Inter- and intrarater reliability were determined via calculation of an intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 98 patients who sustained a PCL injury in this study period, 59 (60%) met inclusion criteria, and 59 healthy knee controls were matched. There were no differences between the cohorts for age (P = .90), sex (P > .99), or body mass index (P = .74). The PCL cohort had a lower mean ± SD PTSA compared with the control group (5.9°± 2.7° vs 7.3°± 4.3°; P = .03). PTSA <7° was associated with a 2.8 (95% CI, 1.3-6.0; P = .01) times risk of PCL tear. Conversely, PTSA >10° was associated with a 0.27 (95% CI, 0.09-0.81; P = .02) times risk of PCL tear. These PTSA measurements demonstrated acceptable intrarater and interrater reliability. Conclusion: PTSA <7° was associated with an increased odds of PCL injury, whereas a slope >10° was associated with a decreased odds of PCL injury in a pediatric population. These findings corroborate similar outcomes in adult studies; however, further studies are needed to elucidate PTSA as a risk factor for PCL injury.

Concomitant Anatomic PCL and FCL Reconstructions With Partial Lateral Meniscectomy

Background: Fibular collateral ligament (FCL) injuries commonly present in a multiligament knee injury pattern. These injuries are associated with significant instability leading to altered tibiofemoral biomechanics and therefore require surgical intervention. Similarly, grade 3 posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries may disrupt normal tibiofemoral and patellofemoral biomechanics and increase the risk of secondary osteoarthritis. Therefore, concomitant reconstruction of the FCL and PCL should be performed to decrease knee laxity and optimize functional outcomes. Indications: Early operative treatment is indicated for patients with combined grade 3 FCL injuries and complete PCL tears. Contraindications to this procedure include patients who have significant osteoarthritis, open knee dislocations, or medical comorbidities making them unfit for surgery. Technique Description: The fundamental idea behind this technique is a stepwise treatment starting with open aspects of the procedure and followed by arthroscopic work. The technique is initiated with a lateral approach, common peroneal neurolysis, fibular and femoral FCL reconstruction tunnel preparation, and a gracilis or semitendinosus tendon autograft harvest. After that, focus shifts to intra-articular work such as associated meniscal assessment and treatment, PCL femoral and tibial tunnel preparation, graft passage, and PCL femoral tunnel fixation. Final graft fixation order is as follows: anterolateral bundle of PCL, posteromedial bundle of PCL, and finally FCL. Results: Multiple studies have reported that an anatomic FCL reconstruction in the setting of multiligament injury results in improved patient outcomes. In a prospective study of 20 patients, LaPrade et al reported −0.4 mm difference in side-to-side lateral compartment gapping and significant postoperative improvement of symptom and functional scores at a minimum 2 year postoperative follow-up after anatomic reconstruction of the FCL. Similarly, Moulton et al reported significant improvement in the average Western Ontario and Lysholm scores at 2.7 years follow-up. LaPrade et al also reported significant improvement in function and objective outcome scores at 3 years’ follow-up from anatomic double-bundle PCL reconstruction. Discussion: Anatomic FCL and PCL reconstructions successfully restore near native knee objective stability and provide superior clinical outcomes when compared to nonanatomic-based FCL reconstructions that continue to be performed. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Comparison of intraoperative effects of computer navigation-assisted and simple arthroscopic reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament tibial tunnel

To compare the intraoperative effects of computer navigation-assisted versus simple arthroscopic reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tibial tunnel. The clinical data of 73 patients with PCL tears who were admitted between June 2021 and June 2022 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analysed, of whom 34 cases underwent PCL tibial tunnel reconstruction with navigation-assisted arthroscopy (navigation group) and 39 cases underwent PCL tibial tunnel reconstruction with arthroscopy alone (control group). There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups, including gender, age, body mass index, side of injury, time from injury to surgery, preoperative posterior drawer test, knee range of motion (ROM), Tegner score, Lysholm score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score between the two groups ( P>0.05). The perioperative indicators (operation time and number of guide wire drillings) were recorded and compared between the two groups. The angle between the graft and the tibial tunnel and the exit positions of the tibial tunnel in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes respectively were measured on MRI at 1 day after operation. The knee ROM, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and IKDC score were evaluated before operation and at last follow-up. The operation time in the navigation group was shorter than that in the control group, and the number of intraoperative guide wire drillings was less than that in the control group, the differences were significant ( P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 12-17 months, with an average of 12.8 months. There was no perioperative complications such as vascular and nerve damage, deep venous thrombosis and infection of lower extremity. During the follow-up, there was no re-injuries in either group and no revision was required. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the exit positions of the tibial tunnel in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes between the two groups ( P>0.05), but the angle between the graft and the tibial tunnel was significantly greater in the navigation group than in the control group ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, 30, 3, 1 and 0 cases were rated as negative, 1+, 2+, and 3+ of posterior drawer test in the navigation group and 33, 5, 1, and 0 cases in the control group, respectively, which significantly improved when compared with the preoperative values ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, ROM, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and IKDC score of the knee joint significantly improved in both groups when compared with preoperative values ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the difference in preoperative and postoperative indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). Computer-navigated arthroscopic PCL tibial tunnel reconstruction can quickly and accurately prepare tunnels with good location and orientation, with postoperative functional scores comparable to arthroscopic PCL tibial tunnel reconstruction alone.

Comparison of Outcomes in Pediatric and Adolescent Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries With and Without Meniscal Tears: Operative Versus Nonoperative Management.

Despite the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) being an essential stabilizer of the knee, there is a paucity of data regarding injury management in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in outcomes after operative (OP) versus nonoperative (NOP) management of pediatric isolated (single-ligament) PCL tears. It was hypothesized that managing PCL tears operatively would lead to improved functional outcomes compared with NOP management, especially in the setting of an associated meniscal tear. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Pediatric patients with an isolated PCL injury between 2006 and 2020 were identified and grouped according to whether they had a concomitant meniscal tear (PCL+M) or no meniscal tear (PCL-M). These cohorts were further sorted into OP, NOP, and nonoperative converted to operative (NOP2OP) treatment cohorts. Outcome data collected included Lysholm score, current activity level, and whether the patient returned to sports after treatment. A total of 48 patients (49 knees) met study inclusion criteria (31 male, 18 female; mean age at injury, 15.6 years; age range, 8.3-18.9 years). There were 37 knees in the PCL-M cohort (30 NOP, 2 NOP2OP, and 5 OP) and 12 knees in the PCL+M cohort (4 NOP, 4 NOP2OP, and 4 OP). The mean duration of follow-up was 6.2 years (range, 2.4-15.7 years). The mean Lysholm scores were not significantly different between the OP and NOP knees in either the PCL-M cohort (P = .582) or the PCL+M cohort (P = .570); however, the PCL-M cohort overall had significantly higher scores compared with the PCL+M cohort (92.7 ± 13.0 vs 82.8 ± 18.8, respectively; P = .019). The pediatric patients in this series had similar functional outcomes when managed operatively or nonoperatively for their single-ligament PCL tear. When considering concomitant meniscal injury, the results indicated that children with meniscal injury had a worse outcome than those without a meniscal injury. Shared decision-making with patients and their family should take these results into consideration.

Rehabilitation of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL, PCL) in the knee joint using physical therapy and hydrotherapy for some injured athletes

Rehabilitation of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL, PCL) in the knee joint using physical therapy and hydrotherapy for some injured athletes

The Incidence of the Associated Meniscal Ligament (ML) With the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

Objective: To assess the incidence of the associated meniscal ligament (ML) with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in hospital A in Medina-KSA. And to see the effect of sports activities in comparison between males and females. &#x0D; Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, ninety-nine patients' knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) records were selected conveniently from the (A) hospital's picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Patients with suspected anterior cruciate and meniscal ligament' tears were included. Patients with posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear, medial collateral ligament (MCL) or lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury, and previously operated index knees were excluded. All patients were scanned by a 1.5T MRI machine using standard MRI knee scanning protocol. The categorical and continuous variables were presented as percentages, frequencies, and descriptive statistics. The cross-tabulations and chi-square test were applied to obtain the statistical associations between the study variables. A statistical association was considered significant if the P-value was &lt; 0.05. &#x0D; Results: 72 males and 27 females were included, with a mean age of 33 ± 2.43. 42.4% of the knee tears were ML tears, followed by associated (ACL with ML) tears, noted in 31.3%, and 26.3% were ACL tears. The tears were more frequent in the age group (31-40), reported in 35.3% (out of 99). There was no statistical association between the tears and the participants' age, gender, or sports activities; P value = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.9, respectively. &#x0D; Conclusion: The study concluded that the isolated ML tears were more frequent than the associated (ACL with ML) tears—moreover, there was no significant statistical association between the participants' age, gender, or sports activities.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in diagnosing anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injury of knee joint with arthroscopic correlation

Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are the most injured of the major knee ligaments. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) knee is routinely used to diagnose or support clinical diagnosis for cruciate ligament tear before arthroscopic treatment. MRI of the knee has been regarded as the non-invasive alternative to diagnostic arthroscopy, which is regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of traumatic intra-articular knee injuries. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Radiology in collaboration with Orthopedics among 55 patients with clinically suspected anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injury using the purposive sampling method. MRI diagnosis of anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments tear correlated significantly well with arthroscopic diagnosis as shown by the higher validity test results with 90.91% sensitivity, 97.73% specificity, 96.36% accuracy, 90.91% positive predictive value, and 97.73% negative predictive value. The study also revealed that there is no statistically significant difference (p =0.62) between MRI and arthroscopy in the evaluation of cruciate ligament tears. Therefore, MRI is a reliable tool and non-invasive diagnostic modality in the evaluation of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament tears before surgical management of these cases.

Size and Morphology of the Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligaments at Different Pediatric Age Intervals: An MRI Analysis.

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears in children and adolescents has increased over the past decade, with increasing numbers of ACL and PCL reconstructions in this patient population. To evaluate the size and morphology of both the ACL and the PCL by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in different pediatric age groups. Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. MRI examinations of 127 knees (67 female, 60 male; aged 0-18 years) were analyzed retrospectively. The cohort was split into 6 age subgroups, 1 subgroup for every 3 years (minimum 8 patients per subgroup). The following parameters were measured by 2 independent raters at 2 different time points: ACL length, anteroposterior and mediolateral ACL width, sagittal and coronal ACL inclination, inclination of the intercondylar notch, bicondylar width, notch width, coronal ACL and PCL width, PCL length, and sagittal width of the lateral femoral condyle. The following indices, areas, and volumes were calculated: sagittal width of the lateral femoral condyle/PCL length, ACL area and volume, notch width index, ACL width/notch width, PCL width/notch width, ACL width/bicondylar width, and PCL width/bicondylar width. A correlation analysis was performed for patient age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). ACL length was between 18 and 37 mm, and ACL width was between 4 and 6 mm. PCL length ranged between 27 and 43 mm, while PCL width was between 7 and 9 mm. Growth of the cruciate ligaments was the most pronounced between the ages of 4 and 12 years. Correlations with size and weight were strong, while BMI correlated slightly with the measurements. Measurements in female patients were slightly larger than in their male counterparts between the ages of 0 and 6 years, while male patients tended to have larger values starting from ages 7 to 9 years. These values were significantly larger in male patients from the ages of 16 to 18 years (P < .05). This study provides normative data on the morphology of pediatric anatomic features in the knee as a basis for age-appropriate and individualized surgical care of ACL and PCL injuries in children and adolescents.

An Improved Transosseous Pullout Suture Technique for Arthroscopic Repair of a Meniscus Root Tear.

This study aimed to explore the clinical efficiency of an improved transosseous pullout suture technique for arthroscopic repair of a meniscus root tear. From January 2017 to January 2021, 53 patients with posterior meniscus root tears combined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and/or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears were collected. Totally, in 29 patients (group A), the 2.0 mm modified pullout tunnel method was used to suture the posterior meniscus root, while 24 patients (group B) were treated with the traditional 4.5 mm pullout tunnel method. In group A, 20 patients had lateral meniscus posterior root (LMPR) combined with ACL tears, 5 patients had LMPR combined with ACL and PCL tears, and 4 patients had medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) combined with ACL tears. In group B, 19 patients had LMPR combined with ACL tears, 3 patients had LMPR combined with ACL and PCL tears, and 2 patients had MMPR combined with ACL tears. The improvement of the Lysholm and VAS scores and the incidence of complications in group A and group B before the operation, 1 month and 3 months after the operation, and after the final follow-up were compared. Preoperative Lysholm score was 26.0±5.6 in group A and 26.7±5.8 in group B (P>0.05). One-month postoperative Lysholm score was 66.5±5.7 in group A and 54.3±2.4 in group B (P<0.001). Three-month postoperative Lysholm score was 81.1±7.2 in group A and 73.2±9.7 in group B (P<0.05). Lysholm scores after the final follow-up was 90.3±5.6 in group A and 90.0±5.0 in group B (P>0.05). Preoperative VAS score was 6.3±1.4 in group A and 6.3±1.2 in group B (P>0.05). One-month postoperative VAS score was 1.8±0.7 in group A and 2.4±0.9 in group B (P<0.05). Three-month postoperative VAS score was 0.7±0.6 in group A and 0.8±0.6 in group B (P>0.05). VAS score after the final follow-up was 0.2±0.4 in group A and 0.3±0.5 in group B (P>0.05). The improved transosseous pullout suture technique using a smaller 2.0 mm bone tunnel can virtually eliminate the risk of conflict with other bone tunnels and facilitate the management of bone tunnels in multiple ligament injuries, while also diminishing suture abrasion caused by the windshield wiper effect. The technique achieves good clinical efficacy.

Outcome analysis of posterior cruciate ligament injuries

Background - The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), a major stabiliser of the knee, restrains the posterior translation of tibia over femur. Injury to the two bundles of this ligament is usually seen in a motor vehicle accident, followed by dashboard injury. Methods - Non-operative management post posterior cruciate ligament tears includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and rehabilitation. Common surgical procedures include trans-tibial tunnel or tibial inlay technique of graft reconstruction, single bundle or double bundle reconstruction. Literature on outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament injuries managed with either of the methods is sparse; we therefore aim to conduct an interventional study to analyse the patients’ functional status and satisfaction post treatment. Conclusions - Lysholm knee scoring scale and IKDC knee scoring system will be used as outcome measures. The follow up scores are taken 6, 12, 15 and 24 months after the treatment. CTRI registration: REF/2023/06/068422

Comparative evaluation of magnetic resonance arthrogram with arthroscopy in knee pathologies

Background: Magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) has emerged as a supplement to non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially in the identification of meniscal and chondral pathologies. It has increased the diagnostic efficacy of MRI in the evaluation of knee pathologies. Aims and Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of MRA in the diagnosis of various knee pathologies and to correlate its findings with arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 patients with knee pain scheduled to undergo arthroscopic evaluation were enrolled in the study and were assessed using MRA before arthroscopy. MRA findings were correlated with arthroscopic findings. The level of agreement was measured using kappa statistics. Diagnostic efficacy was assessed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results: Cartilage involvement (48.2%), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and medial meniscus tear (37.5% each), bony injury (n=12; 21.4%), chondral defect (n=11; 19.6%), posterior cruciate ligament tear (n=10; 17.9%), and lateral meniscus tear (n=8; 14.3%) were the knee pathologies confirmed by arthroscopy. MRA had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for pathologies such as ACL tear, lateral meniscus tear, medial meniscus tear, and bony injury. It was 100% specific for all the pathologies with no false positive detection. There was a strong to perfect agreement between MRA and arthroscopic findings for different knee pathologies. Conclusion: The present study found MRA to be a highly specific diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of different knee pathologies and it is useful in reducing the burden of undesired invasive arthroscopies.

Biplanar Proximal Tibial Opening-Wedge Osteotomy for a Chronic PCL Tear With Medial Compartment Arthritis

Background: Chronic posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) insufficiency leads to instability of the knee, resulting in increased loading of the medial and patellofemoral compartments. Chronic PCL insufficiency progressively damages the menisci and chondral surfaces and can accentuate and worsen varus malalignment. Biplanar proximal tibial opening-wedge osteotomy (BPTO) is a treatment option for chronic PCL tears with medial compartment arthritis which concurrently treats sagittal (flat slope) and varus coronal alignment. Indications: Opening-wedge BPTO is indicated in active patients who present with varus malalignment and flat slope with concomitant degenerative medial compartment osteoarthritis and PCL insufficiency. In general, BPTO is contraindicated in patients with a significantly elevated body mass index (BMI), smokers, or in those who have advanced tricompartmental osteoarthritis. Technique Description: Preoperative long-leg radiographs are essential to preoperative evaluation. Ideal coronal alignment following correction would have the mechanical axis pass through the apex of the lateral tibial eminence to properly off-load the medial compartment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are also useful for determining the presence and extent of concomitant soft tissue and chondral injury, especially in the lateral compartment. This video demonstrates the senior author’s preferred technique for a biplanar proximal tibial opening (PTO) with concomitant chondroplasty and partial medial meniscectomy (PMM). The senior author’s preferred order of operations is also displayed and involves first performing an arthroscopy, then proceeding with the open portions of the case, including the medial approach and subsequent osteotomy. Results: Past studies have supported PTO as a reliable treatment option for varus malalignment. Bode et al reported a 5-year survival rate of 96% of patients with an overall complication rate of 8.6%. The authors also reported that Lysholm scores were also significantly improved at 60-month follow-up compared with preoperative scores. Discussion: This is a technique for the correction of a varus malalignment with concomitant flat slope and PCL insufficiency with biplanar open-wedge PTO. This operation corrects the mechanical axis and sagittal slope of the knee and restores proper load distribution across the tibiofemoral articulation. In conclusion, a biplanar open-wedge PTO is a useful alternative to joint arthroplasty for active patients with a chronic PCL tear, medial compartment arthritis, and varus malalignment. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Open Repair of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Peel-Off Lesion in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries Results in Good Outcomes

To identify posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) peel-off lesions, to separate these lesions from more common midsubstance tears, and to evaluate patient outcomes after primary open repair. Patients with acute femoral-side "peel off"-type lesions associated with multiligamentous injuries who underwent PCL repair were identified. Patients with chronic PCL injuries, midsubstance PCL tears, or PCL tibial avulsions were excluded from the study. A total of 11 patients were included in this study. All patients underwent open repair using a suture pullout technique. The mean follow-up period was 18 months. The mean Lysholm score at 12 months was 87. Mean knee range of motion (flexion) achieved at 12 months was 121°. No patient had grade 3 laxity on posterior stress testing at final follow-up. Our study showed good outcomes after primary repair of femoral PCL peel-off lesions. Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Arthroscopic Remnant Preserving 3-Portal Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Reverse Passage of the Graft

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is the largest and strongest ligament of the knee, with a tremendous role as the primary posterior stabilizer of the knee. Surgical management of PCL injuries is very demanding, due to the fact that the PCL tear usually is a part of multiligamentous knee injury. Moreover, PCL anatomy, especially its course and attachment points to femur and tibia, makes reconstruction of the PCL technically challenging. The main pitfall is the sharp angle between created during reconstruction surgery bony tunnels, which forms so called “killer turn”. The authors present a technique of the remnant-preserving PCL arthroscopic reconstruction that simplifies the procedure and uses the method of reverse passage of the PCL graft to overcome the killer turn.

Patient demographic and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of isolated posterolateral corner knee injuries.

Posterolateral stability of the knee is maintained by capsular, ligamentous and tendinous structures, which collectively are known as the posterolateral corner (PLC). Injuries to the PLC of the knee rarely occur without associated anterior (ACL) or posterior cruciate (PCL) ligament tears. The main objectives of our study were to report patient demographics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of patients with isolated PLC injuries. This study consists of a retrospective analysis of knee MRI from January 2011 to June 2016, in two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil, where PLC injuries without associated ACL and PCL injuries were identified in MRI by two radiologists specialized in musculoskeletal injuries. Relative and absolute frequencies were used to describe the injuries of each of the PLC structures in the study cases. A total of 23 cases of PLC injuries without associated cruciate ligament injuries were identified. The mean age of patients was 32.0±8.1 years and 91% patients were male. The main sport associated with isolated PLC injury was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (48%), followed by soccer (35%). MRI evaluations of the knees showed lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries in 70% of cases, popliteus tendon injuries in 26% of cases and distal biceps tendon injuries in 30% of cases. The popliteofibular ligament (PFL) was damaged in 83% of cases. An associated ALL injury was observed in 43% of cases. Isolated PLC injuries occurred mainly in young men when practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and soccer. The LCL was the most frequently injured larger structure in association, and the capsuloligamentous structures (PFL) were the most frequently injured structures overall. ALL injuries occurred in approximately half of the cases, most often concomitantly with LCL injuries.

Accuracy of Point-Of-Care Knee Sonography for Diagnosis of Traumatic Anterior / Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tears Taking Magnetic Resonance Imaging as Gold Standard: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Knee joint is among the all the body's joints that are much prone to sustains injuries. Injury to the knee ligaments followed by instability can lead to serious deformity. The diagnosis of ligament injuries is frequently performed by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the use of ultrasonography remains controversial. This article reviews the current literature regarding the viability of point-of-care knee ultrasonography (POCUS) in comparison to knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries in those individuals who have experienced sudden knee trauma. The data span from 2000 to 2022 was used for the electronic database search (PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar). The systematic review included all studies that evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound (U/S) compared to MRI as the gold standard and were completely available in English. The meta-analysis reviewing the efficacy of MSK-POCUS for anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries includes 30 papers. The overall ultrasonography sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 76.02%, 92.77%, 92.25%, and 81.91% (95% CI), respectively. By assuring MRI as the gold standard in the diagnosis of ACL and PCL injuries, Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) reveals high accuracy. In individuals who have sustained acute knee injuries, the results of POCUS imaging might be serve to provide an initial diagnosis for additional pre-operative work-up.

Arthroscopic Primary Repair of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Using Ring Suture Attached to Adjustable Loop Device

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries occur most often in the setting of a multiligamentous injured knee and are frequently the result of high-energy trauma. For severe and multiligamentous PCL injuries, surgical intervention is recommended. Although PCL reconstruction has traditionally been the standard treatment, arthroscopic primary PCL repair has been revisited over the past few years for proximal tears with sufficient tissue quality. Current PCL repair techniques report two technical issues: the risk of suture abrasion/laceration during the stitching process, and the inability to retension the ligament after fixation with either suture anchors or ligament buttons. In this technical note, we describe the surgical technique of arthroscopic primary repair of proximal PCL tears using a looping ring suture device (FiberRing), combined with an adjustable loop cortical fixation device (ACL Repair TightRope). The goals of this technique are to offer a minimally invasive option to preserve the native PCL and to avoid the observed shortcomings of other arthroscopic primary repair techniques.