Arthroscopic Centralization for Lateral Meniscal Injuries Reduces Laxity in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Reconstructed Knee

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110417
Author(s):  
Tomomasa Nakamura ◽  
Brandon D. Marshall ◽  
Taylor M. Price ◽  
Yongtao Mao ◽  
Monica A. Linde ◽  
...  

Background: A lateral meniscal (LM) disorder is one factor that causes rotational laxity after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). There are different types of irreparable meniscal disorders, one of which is a massive meniscal defect. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the kinematic effects of arthroscopic centralization on an irreparable LM defect. The hypothesis was that arthroscopic centralization for an irreparable LM defect with concomitant ACLR would improve knee rotational stability. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 14 fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were tested in 4 states: (1) intact ACL and intact lateral meniscus, (2) reconstructed ACL and intact lateral meniscus, (3) reconstructed ACL and lateral meniscus defect, and (4) reconstructed ACL and centralized lateral meniscus. Anatomic ACLR was performed using an 8 mm–diameter hamstring tendon graft. An LM defect (20% of the anteroposterior length) was created arthroscopically, and arthroscopic centralization was performed. Kinematics were analyzed using a 6 degrees of freedom robotic system under 4 knee loads: (1) an 89.0-N anterior tibial load, (2) a 5.0-N·m external rotation tibial torque, (3) a 5.0-N·m internal rotation tibial torque, and (4) a simulated pivot-shift load with a combined 7.0-N·m valgus and 5.0-N·m internal rotation tibial torque. Results: LM centralization reduced anterior tibial translation similar to that of the ACLR intact LM state under anterior tibial loading (~2 mm at 30° of flexion) and showed 40% to 100% of tibial displacement in the 4 knee states under simulated pivot-shift loading. The procedure overconstrained the knee under internal rotation tibial torque and simulated pivot-shift loading. Conclusion: Arthroscopic centralization reduced knee laxity after ACLR for a massive LM defect in a cadaveric model. Clinical Relevance: In cases involving irreparable LM injuries during ACLR, consideration should be given to arthroscopic centralization for reducing knee laxity. However, the procedure may overconstrain the knee in certain motions.

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (14) ◽  
pp. 3391-3399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Burkhart ◽  
Manoj Matthew ◽  
W. Scott McGuffin ◽  
Alexandra Blokker ◽  
David Holdsworth ◽  
...  

Background: Previous research demonstrated that the attachment of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) to the lateral meniscus is stiffer and stronger in its tibial attachment than its femoral attachment. How this relates to anterolateral knee stability and lateral meniscal function is unknown. Hypothesis/Purpose: The hypothesis was that the ALL acts as a peripheral anchor to the lateral meniscus, aiding in anterolateral rotatory stability, and that the inframeniscal fibers of the ALL will provide greater anterolateral rotatory stability because of their greater tensile properties. The purpose was therefore to compare the difference in kinematics of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)–deficient knee between the infra- and suprameniscal ALL-sectioned states. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Eight paired fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were tested in a 5–degree of freedom loading jig under the following loading conditions: 5-N·m internal rotation at 15° incremental angles of flexion and combined 5-N·m internal rotation moment, 10-N·m valgus moment, and 88-N anterior translation force representing a pivot shift test at 0°, 15°, and 30° of flexion. The knees were tested under intact, ACL-deficient, and ACL-/ALL-deficient conditions, with the pairs of knees being randomized to either supra- or inframeniscal ALL sectioning. Resultant joint kinematics and tibiofemoral translations were measured and compared with a 2-way mixed repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Internal rotation increased by 3° after sectioning of the ACL at 0° of knee flexion ( P = .035). At 45° of knee flexion, internal rotation increased significantly by 2° between the ACL-deficient and the ACL-/ALL-deficient conditions ( P = .049). Secondary kinematics of valgus and anterior translation were observed in response to the 5-N·m load after ACL and ALL sectioning. Analysis of the pivot shift showed increases in tibiofemoral translation after sectioning of the ACL, with further translations after sectioning of the ALL. No differences were observed between supra- and inframeniscal ALL sectioning under any of the loading conditions. Conclusion: An injury to the ALL, coexisting with ACL deficiency, results in only minor increases in knee joint patholaxity. No differences in pivot-shift kinematics or tibiofemoral rotations were observed between the supra- and inframeniscal sectioning of the ALL in the ACL-deficient knee Clinical Relevance: Tears of the midbody and/or posterior root attachment of the lateral meniscus are often observed at the time of ACL reconstruction. Increased anterolateral rotatory laxity has been observed in both lateral meniscus– and ALL-deficient states in combination with an ACL injury. While no significant functional relationship was found between the ALL and lateral meniscus, ALL sectioning did result in increased knee joint patholaxity, as demonstrated by composite tibiofemoral rotations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110218
Author(s):  
Anne Gro Heyn Faleide ◽  
Liv Heide Magnussen ◽  
Bård Erik Bogen ◽  
Torbjørn Strand ◽  
Ingunn Fleten Mo ◽  
...  

Background: Deciding when patients are ready to return to sport (RTS) after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is challenging. The understanding of which factors affect readiness and how they may be related is limited. Therefore, despite widespread use of RTS testing, there is a lack of knowledge about which tests are informative on the ability to resume sports. Purpose: To examine whether there is an association between knee laxity and psychological readiness to RTS after ACLR and to evaluate the predictive value of these measures on sports resumption. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients aged ≥16 years engaged in physical activity/sports before injury were recruited at routine clinical assessment 9-12 months after ACLR. Exclusion criteria were concomitant ligament surgery at ACLR and/or previous ACL injury in the contralateral knee. At baseline, a project-specific activity questionnaire and the ACL–Return to Sport After Injury (ACL-RSI) scale were completed. Knee laxity was assessed by use of the Lachman test, KT-1000 arthrometer, and pivot-shift test. Two years after surgery, knee reinjuries and RTS status (the project-specific questionnaire) were registered. Associations between psychological readiness and knee laxity were evaluated with the Spearman rho test, and predictive ability of the ACL-RSI and knee laxity tests were examined using regression analyses. Results: Of 171 patients screened for eligibility, 132 were included in the study. There were small but significant associations between the ACL-RSI score and the Lachman test (rho = −0.18; P = .046) and KT-1000 arthrometer measurement (rho = −0.18; P = .040) but no association between the ACL-RSI and the pivot-shift test at the time of recruitment. Of the total patients, 36% returned to preinjury sport level by 2 years after surgery. Higher age, better psychological readiness, and less anterior tibial displacement (KT-1000 arthrometer measurement) were significant predictors of 2-year RTS (explained variance, 33%). Conclusion: Small but significant associations were found between measurements of psychological readiness and anterior tibial displacement, indicating that patients with less knee laxity after ACLR feel more ready to RTS. ACL-RSI and KT-1000 arthrometer measurements were independent predictors of 2-year RTS and should be considered in RTS assessments after ACLR.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoan Li ◽  
Ali Hosseini ◽  
Hemanth Gadikota ◽  
Thomas Gill

This study evaluated the biomechanical efficacy of single-tunnel double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique. The graft construct is achieved using a novel fixation device that splits an ACL (SPACL) graft into two bundles, recreating the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles for ACL reconstruction. A pullout strength test of the SPACL was performed using a 7-mm bovine digital extensor tendon graft. The capability in restoration of knee kinematics after SPACL reconstruction was investigated using cadaveric human knees on a robotic testing system under an anterior tibial load of 134 N and a simulated quadriceps load of 400 N. The data indicated that the SPACL graft has a pullout strength of 823.7±172.3 N. Under the 134 N anterior tibial load, the anteroposterior joint laxity had increased constraint using the SPACL reconstruction but not significantly (p > 0.05) at all selected flexion angles. Under the 400 N quadriceps load, no significant differences were observed between the anterior tibial translation of intact knee and SPACL conditions at all selected flexion angles, but the SPACL graft induced a significant increase in external tibial rotation compared to the intact knee condition at all selected flexion angles with a maximal external rotation of −3.20 deg ±3.6 deg at 90 deg flexion. These data showed that the SPACL technique is equivalent or superior to existing ACL reconstruction techniques in restoration of knee laxity and kinematics. The new SPACL reconstruction technique could provide a valuable alternation to contemporary ACL reconstruction surgery by more closely recreating native ACL kinematics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (14) ◽  
pp. 3495-3502
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Sheean ◽  
Jayson Lian ◽  
Robert Tisherman ◽  
Sean J. Meredith ◽  
Darren de SA ◽  
...  

Background: The pivot-shift test is used to assess for rotatory knee laxity in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee and ACL-reconstructed knee; however, the pivot shift uses a subjective grading system that is limited by variability between examiners. Consequently, quantified pivot shift (QPS) test software (PIVOT iPad application) has been developed and validated to measure the magnitude of rotatory knee laxity during the positive pivot-shift test. Purpose: To employ intraoperative QPS (iQPS) to assess for differences in residual rotatory knee laxity after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) versus ACLR augmented with lateral extra-articular tenodesis (ACLR + LET), and to employ iQPS to determine if ACLR and/or ACLR + LET result in overconstrained knee kinematics when compared with the contralateral knee. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: iQPS was performed in 20 patients by a single surgeon on both the operative and contralateral knees before ACLR. ACLR was augmented with a LET if the lateral compartment tibial translation measured during QPS was greater than or equal to double the amount of lateral tibial compartment translation measured for the contralateral knee. After each reconstruction (ACLR or ACLR + LET), iQPS measurements were performed. iQPS data were compared with the preoperative QPS measurements of the operative and contralateral knees. Postoperative iQPS data were compared with both the preoperative QPS measurements of the operative and contralateral knees with paired samples t tests. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher exact test. Results: The mean age in the cohort was 17.3 years (range, 15-24 years). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the proportion of male patients (ACLR: 5 male, 5 female vs ACLR + LET: 4 male, 6 female) or age (ACLR: 17.7 ± 3.3 years; 95% CI, 15.4-24.0 vs ACLR + LET: 16.8 ± 2.8 years, 95% CI, 14.8-22.0; P = .999). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to preoperative QPS performed during examination under anesthesia (ACLR: 4.7 ± 2.0 mm; 95% CI, 3.3-6.1 vs ACLR + LET: 3.6 ± 1.8 mm; 95% CI, 2.3-4.9; P = .2). Both ACLR and ACLR + LET resulted in significant decreases in rotatory knee laxity when compared with preoperative QPS measurements (ACLR: –3.4 ± 1.7 mm; 95% CI, −4.6 to −2.2; P < .001: ACLR + LET: –2.6 ± 1.9 mm; 95% CI, −3.9 to −1.3; P < .002). Moreover, when compared with isolated ACLR, ACLR + LET did not result in a significantly smaller magnitude of change in iQPS between the pre- and postoperative states ( P = .3). Conclusion: Both ACLR and ACLR + LET resulted in significant decreases in rotatory knee laxity. The augmentation of ACLR with LET did not change the constraint of the knee with respect to lateral compartment translation as measured during iQPS.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Höher ◽  
Akihiro Kanamori ◽  
Jennifer Zeminski ◽  
Freddie H. Fu ◽  
Savio L-Y. Woo

Ten cadaveric knees (donor ages, 36 to 66 years) were tested at full extension, 15°, 30°, and 90° of flexion under a 134-N anterior tibial load. In each knee, the kinematics as well as in situ force in the graft were compared when the graft was fixed with the tibia in four different positions: full knee extension while the surgeon applied a posterior tibial load (Position 1), 30° of flexion with the tibia at the neutral position of the intact knee (Position 2), 30° of flexion with a 67-N posterior tibial load (Position 3), and 30° of flexion with a 134-N posterior tibial load (Position 4). For Positions 1 and 2, the anterior tibial translation and the in situ forces were up to 60% greater and 36% smaller, respectively, than that of the intact knee. For Position 3, knee kinematics and in situ forces were closest to those observed in the intact knee. For Position 4, anterior tibial translation was significantly decreased by up to 2 mm and the in situ force increased up to 31 N. These results suggest that the position of the tibia during graft fixation is an important consideration for the biomechanical performance of an anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knee.


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