BackgroundThe best choice of graft tissue for use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been the subject of debate. Hypothesis: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft leads to greater knee stability than reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.Study DesignMetaanalysis.MethodsA Medline search identified articles published from January 1966 to May 2000 describing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with either patellar tendon or hamstring tendon autograft and with a minimum patient follow-up of 24 months.ResultsThere were 1348 patients in the patellar tendon group (21 studies) and 628 patients in the hamstring tendon group (13 studies). The rate of graft failure in the patellar tendon group was significantly lower (1.9% versus 4.9%) and a significantly higher proportion of patients in the patellar tendon group had a side-to-side difference of less than 3 mm on KT-1000 arthrometer testing than in the hamstring tendon group (79% versus 73....

/pdf/arthroscopic-anterior-cruciate-ligament-reconstruction-a-3kl3y3x372.pdf

Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Metaanalysis Comparing Patellar Tendon and Hamstring Tendon Autografts

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the results after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using central-third bone—patellar tendon—bone (BTB) autografts and triple/quadruple semitendinosus (ST) autografts.Hypothesis: In the long-term, ACL reconstruction using BTB autografts will render more donor-site problems than ST autografts.Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods: A randomized series of 71 patients (22 women and 49 men) with a unilateral ACL rupture who underwent reconstructive surgery were included in the study. The BTB graft was used in 34 patients (BTB group) and the ST-tendon graft was used in 37 patients (ST group). The patients were examined a median of 86 months (range, 68 to 114 months) after the reconstruction.Results: Sixty-eight of 71 patients (96%) were examined at follow-up. The clinical assessments at follow-up revealed no significant differences between the BTB group and the ST group in terms of the Lysholm score, Teg...

Patellar Tendon or Semitendinosus Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective, Randomized Study With a 7-Year Follow-up

Knee ligament injuries are common in sport. A rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most serious of these injuries because it may cause long term disability. In this literature review, the frequency of post-traumatic gonarthrosis is examined. There are few long term prospective studies but a number of retrospective studies with follow-up times between 5 and 20 years have been published. These studies show that radiographic gonarthrosis is significantly increased after all knee injuries compared with the uninjured joint of the same patient. Isolated meniscus rupture and subsequent repair, or partial or total ruptures of the ACL without major concomitant injuries, seem to increase the risk 10-fold (15 to 20% incidence of gonarthrosis) compared with an age-matched, uninjured population (1 to 2%). Meniscectomy in a joint with intact ligaments further doubles the risk of gonarthrosis (30 to 40%), and 50 to 70% of patients with complete ACL rupture and associated injuries have radiographic changes after 15 to 20 years. Thus, an ACL rupture combined with meniscus rupture or other knee ligament injuries results in gonarthrosis in most patients. Ten to 20 years after ACL injury, gonarthrosis often presents as a slight joint space reduction or, occasionally, joint space obliteration (Ahlback grades I to II), but is usually not associated with major clinical symptoms. According to the few longitudinal studies, the progress of gonarthrosis is slow, and in some cases the condition seems to remain stable. Time is an important determinant for the degree of gonarthrosis and problems demanding treatment may be encountered only at > 30 years after the initial accident.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and the long-term incidence of gonarthrosis.

The authors review the current knowledge on donor site-related problems after using different types of autografts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and make recommendations on minimizing late donor-site problems. Postoperative donor-site morbidity and anterior knee pain following ACL surgery may result in substantial impairment for patients. The selection of graft, surgical technique, and rehabilitation program can affect the severity of pain that patients experience. The loss or disturbance of anterior sensitivity caused by intraoperative injury to the infrapatellar nerve(s) in conjunction with patellar tendon harvest is correlated with donor-site discomfort and an inability to kneel and knee-walk. The patellar tendon at the donor site has significant clinical, radiographic, and histologic abnormalities 2 years after harvest of its central third. Donor-site discomfort correlates poorly with radiographic and histologic findings after the use of patellar tendon autografts. The use of hamstring tendon autografts appears to cause less postoperative donor-site morbidity and anterior knee problems than the use of patellar tendon autografts. There also appears to be a regrowth of the hamstring tendons within 2 years of the harvesting procedure. There is little known about the effect on the donor site of harvesting fascia lata and quadriceps tendon autografts. Efforts should be made to spare the infrapatellar nerve(s) during ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon autografts. Reharvesting the patellar tendon cannot be recommended due to significant clinical, radiographic, and histologic abnormalities 2 years after harvesting its central third. It is important to regain full range of motion and strength after the use of any type of autograft to avoid future anterior knee problems. If randomized controlled trials show that the long-term laxity measurements following ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autografts are equal to those of patellar tendon autografts, we recommend the use of hamstring tendon autografts because there are fewer donor-site problems.

Donor-site morbidity and anterior knee problems after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autografts

We retrospectively reviewed the results of 97 patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions using an arthroscopically assisted two-incision technique without extraarticular augmentation at an intermediate followup of 5 to 9 years postoperatively. Evaluation included detailed history, physical examination, functional testing, KT-1000 arthrometer measurements, multiple scoring systems, and radiographs. The results were compared with those from a previous study that evaluated a smaller patient cohort using the identical surgical technique at a 2- to 4-year followup. The post-operative physical examination and KT-1000 arthrometer results were statistically improved when compared with preoperative findings. A negative pivot shift result was noted in 83% of patients, and a 1 result in 17% of patients. Seventy percent of patients had 3 mm difference on manual maximum side-to-side testing. Functional testing averaged less than 2% asymmetry for vertical jump, single-legged hop, or timed 6-meter hop. The...

/pdf/arthroscopically-assisted-anterior-cruciate-ligament-4xj7b25zc1.pdf

Arthroscopically Assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon Autograft Five- to Nine-Year Follow-up Evaluation

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinically, functionally, and objectively our initial experience using free, autogenous middle third patellar tendon for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction without extraarticular augmentation in 62 of 75 patients (80% followup) who were available for clinical review at a minimum 2-year followup. Subjective, clinical, functional, Cybex dynamometer, and KT-1000 arthrometer tests were performed along with modified tests of the Hospital for Special Surgery, Noyes Cincinnati, Tegner, and Lysholm knee rating scales. Ninety-two percent had a negative pivot shift at followup. The mean Cybex dynamometer extension deficits postoperatively were 9% and 7% at 180 and 240 deg/sec. Mild patellar pain symptoms were noted in 18%. The reoperation rate was 10% with a mild flexion contracture as the most common reason. The Hospital for Special Surgery scoring scale postoperatively was 88; Noyes, 86; Lysholm, 88; and Tegner, 6. Mean postoperative single-legged and vertical jump indices were 88% and 87%, respectively. The KT-1000 arthrometric evaluation postoperatively revealed a mean maximum manual difference of 0.3 mm; 92% of the patients had a maximum manual difference of < or = 3 mm. Subjectively, 95% indicated that they would undergo the procedure again. Early results demonstrate excellent stability, preservation of motion, and encouraging evaluations by scoring scales and arthrometric evaluation.

Arthroscopy-assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon Substitution Two- to Four-year Follow-up Results

Sixty-two patients who underwent arthroscopically as sisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the middle-third patellar tendon autograft without extraar ticular augmentation were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum 2-year (mean, 37-month) followup. A postop erative KT-1000 arthrometric evaluation revealed a mean maximum manual difference of 0.3 mm (range, -6 to +16). Ninety percent of the patients had a mean maximum difference of ≤3 mm. Three patients had a ≥5 mm mean maximum difference; positive pivot shifts were noted in two of these patients. Despite an early range of motion, early weightbearing protocol without an extraarticular backup, the pivot shift (92% negative) was reliably eliminated at postoperative followup. Ar thrometric parameters were statistically reduced (P < 0.0001) from preoperative status and were consistent with the diagnostic criteria established for normal knees. There was no relationship established in the "tighter" knees (those with negative side-to-side arthrometr...

Greg T. Jones

Papers

Arthroscopy-assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon Substitution Two- to Four-year Follow-up Results

Arthrometric Results of Arthroscopically Assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction using Autograft Patellar Tendon Substitution