scholarly journals Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair Leads to Greater Limb Asymmetry and Less Cartilage Damage Than Untreated ACL Transection or ACL Reconstruction in the Porcine Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-674
Author(s):  
Naga Padmini Karamchedu ◽  
Martha M. Murray ◽  
Jakob T. Sieker ◽  
Benedikt L. Proffen ◽  
Gabriela Portilla ◽  
...  

Background: The extent of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in the porcine anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection model is dependent on the surgical treatment selected. In a previous study, animals treated with bridge-enhanced ACL repair using a tissue-engineered implant developed less PTOA than those treated with ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Alterations in gait, including asymmetric weightbearing and shorter stance times, have been noted in clinical studies of subjects with osteoarthritis. Hypothesis: Animals receiving a surgical treatment that results in less PTOA (ie, bridge-enhanced ACL repair) would exhibit fewer longitudinal postoperative gait asymmetries over a 1-year period when compared with treatments that result in greater PTOA (ie, ACLR and ACL transection). Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Thirty-six Yucatan minipigs underwent ACL transection and were randomized to receive (1) no further treatment, (2) ACLR, or (3) bridge-enhanced ACL repair. Gait analyses were performed preoperatively, and at 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postoperatively. Macroscopic cartilage assessments were performed at 52 weeks. Results: Knees treated with bridge-enhanced ACL repair had less macroscopic damage in the medial tibial plateau than those treated with ACLR or ACL transection (adjusted P = .03 for both comparisons). The knees treated with bridge-enhanced ACL repair had greater asymmetry in hindlimb maximum force and impulse loading at 52 weeks than the knees treated with ACL transection (adjusted P < .05 for both comparisons). Although not significant, there was a trend that knees treated with bridge-enhanced ACL repair had greater asymmetry in hindlimb maximum force and impulse loading (adjusted P < .10 for both comparisons) compared with ACLR. Conclusion: Contrary to our hypothesis, the surgical treatment resulting in less macroscopic cartilage damage (ie, bridge-enhanced ACL repair) exhibited greater asymmetry in load-related gait parameters than the other surgical groups. This finding suggests that increased offloading of the surgical knee may be associated with a slower rate of PTOA development. Clinical Relevance: Less cartilage damage at 52 weeks was found in the surgical group that continued to protect the limb from full body weight during gait. This finding suggests that protection of the knee from maximum stresses may be important in minimizing the development of PTOA in the ACL-injured knee within 1 year.

2018 ◽  
Vol 100-B (3) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nakamae ◽  
N. Adachi ◽  
M. Deie ◽  
M. Ishikawa ◽  
T. Nakasa ◽  
...  

Aims To investigate the risk factors for progression of articular cartilage damage after anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patients and Methods A total of 174 patients who underwent second-look arthroscopic evaluation after anatomical ACL reconstruction were enrolled in this study. The graded condition of the articular cartilage at the time of ACL reconstruction was compared with that at second-look arthroscopy. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), ACL reconstruction technique, meniscal conditions, and other variables were assessed by regression analysis as risk factors for progression of damage to the articular cartilage. Results In the medial compartment, multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that partial medial meniscectomy (odds ratio (OR) 6.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.11 to 22.04, p = 0.001), pivot-shift test grade at the final follow-up (OR 3.53, CI 1.39 to 8.96, p = 0.008), BMI (OR 1.15, CI 1.03 to 1.28, p = 0.015) and medial meniscal repair (OR 3.19, CI 1.24 to 8.21, p = 0.016) were significant risk factors for progression of cartilage damage. In the lateral compartment, partial lateral meniscectomy (OR 10.94, CI 4.14 to 28.92, p < 0.001) and side-to-side differences in anterior knee laxity at follow-up (OR 0.63, p = 0.001) were significant risk factors. Conclusion Partial meniscectomy was found to be strongly associated with the progression of articular cartilage damage despite r anatomical ACL reconstruction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:285–93.


2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110171
Author(s):  
Lukas Willinger ◽  
Kiron K. Athwal ◽  
Andy Williams ◽  
Andrew A. Amis

Background: Biomechanical studies on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and reconstructions are based on ACL transection instead of realistic injury trauma. Purpose: To replicate an ACL injury in vitro and compare the laxity that occurs with that after an isolated ACL transection injury before and after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Nine paired knees were ACL injured or ACL transected. For ACL injury, knees were mounted in a rig that imposed tibial anterior translation at 1000 mm/min to rupture the ACL at 22.5° of flexion, 5° of internal rotation, and 710 N of joint compressive force, replicating data published on clinical bone bruise locations. In contralateral knees, the ACL was transected arthroscopically at midsubstance. Both groups had ACL reconstruction with bone–patellar tendon–bone graft. Native, ACL-deficient, and reconstructed knee laxities were measured in a kinematics rig from 0° to 100° of flexion with optical tracking: anterior tibial translation (ATT), internal rotation (IR), anterolateral (ATT + IR), and pivot shift (IR + valgus). Results: The ACL ruptured at 26 ± 5 mm of ATT and 1550 ± 620 N of force (mean ± SD) with an audible spring-back tibiofemoral impact with 5o of valgus. ACL injury and transection increased ATT ( P < .001). ACL injury caused greater ATT than ACL transection by 1.4 mm (range, 0.4-2.2 mm; P = .033). IR increased significantly in ACL-injured knees between 0° and 30° of flexion and in ACL transection knees from 0° to 20° of flexion. ATT during the ATT + IR maneuver was increased by ACL injury between 0° and 80° and after ACL transection between 0° and 60°. Residual laxity persisted after ACL reconstruction from 0° to 40° after ACL injury and from 0° to 20° in the ACL transection knees. ACL deficiency increased ATT and IR in the pivot-shift test ( P < .001). The ATT in the pivot-shift increased significantly at 0° to 20° after ACL transection and 0° to 50° after ACL injury, and this persisted across 0° to 20° and 0° to 40° after ACL reconstruction. Conclusion: This study developed an ACL injury model in vitro that replicated clinical ACL injury as evidenced by bone bruise patterns. ACL injury caused larger increases of laxity than ACL transection, likely because of damage to adjacent tissues; these differences often persisted after ACL reconstruction. Clinical Relevance: This in vitro model created more realistic ACL injuries than surgical transection, facilitating future evaluation of ACL reconstruction techniques.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 263502542110054
Author(s):  
Harmen D. Vermeijden ◽  
Jelle P. van der List ◽  
Gregory S. DiFelice

Background: Historically, the midterm outcomes of open anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair were rather disappointing, and ACL reconstruction subsequently became the surgical standard for ACL injuries. Recent studies, however, have shown that there might be a role for arthroscopic primary repair in appropriately selected patients with proximal ACL tears. Indications: Due to more prominent blood supply in the proximal ligament region, ACL repair should only be performed in patients with proximal tears and good-to-excellent tissue quality. Although all patients are potential candidates, this procedure is preferably performed acutely and in adult patients. Technique Description: First, it is identified whether a proximal tear with good tissue quality is present. Then, both ACL bundles are sutured individually from distal to proximal using a Bunnell-type pattern and a self-retrieving suture passer. The posterolateral bundle is then reattached first in anatomical fashion, using a 4.75-mm vented biocomposite suture anchor. Next, the suture anchor of the anteromedial bundle is preloaded with an internal suture tape augmentation. After anchor deployment, the suture tape augmentation is channeled through a small 2.5-mm tibial tunnel in the anterior third of the tibial ACL footprint. Finally, the suture augmentation is tensioned near full extension and fixed to the tibia’s anteromedial cortex using single suture anchor fixation. Results: Recently, we have published a series of the first 113 consecutive repair patients with minimum 2-year follow-up, of which 60 received additional suture augmentation. In this cohort, the overall failure rate was 13%, which was similar to 3 other studies on modern-day ACL repair (range: 5%-15%). Subgroup analysis showed that the failure rate was much higher in patients ≤ 21 years (38%) but low in patients >21 years (0%). Finally, it has been shown that there is an earlier return of knee motion, complications are rare, and there is less joint awareness after ACL repair as compared with ACL reconstruction. Conclusion: Selective, modern-day, arthroscopic primary ACL repair with suture augmentation seems to be a good alternative to ACL reconstruction in carefully selected patients, which include patients with proximal tears and good tissue quality and aged ≤ 22 years.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596712096460
Author(s):  
Forrest L. Anderson ◽  
Margaret L. Wright ◽  
Matthew J. Anderson ◽  
Frank J. Alexander ◽  
George Popa ◽  
...  

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is the standard of care for patients after an ACL tear, as poor historical outcomes were observed after primary ACL repair. Certain subgroups of patients, however, have been shown to have outcomes equivalent to reconstruction after undergoing ACL repair and therefore may benefit from the potential advantages offered by avoiding reconstruction. It is important to accurately and consistently identify and indicate these candidates for ACL repair. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the inter- and intraobserver reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation for the reparability of ACL tears and to identify imaging factors that may lead to surgeon uncertainty or disagreement in decision making. Our hypothesis was that the orthopaedic surgeons surveyed would not be able to reliably agree on the reparability of an ACL using MRI scans alone. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We administered 2 surveys to 6 fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons. Each surgeon reviewed preoperative MRI scans for 20 patients and answered a series of questions, ultimately determining whether they would choose an ACL reconstruction or repair for the patient based on the imaging alone. The same survey was repeated 6 weeks later. Kappa values for inter- and intraobserver reliability of their decision making were then calculated. Results: The average kappa for interobserver reliability in the 2 surveys was 0.22, and the average kappa for intraobserver reliability was 0.34. Interobserver reliability among the surgeons in this group was poor to moderate; intraobserver reliability was slightly better. The choice for ACL repair was significantly correlated with proximal tear locations ( r = 0.854; P < .001), good-quality ACL tissue remnant ( r = 0.929; P < .001), and how many surgeons believed that the tear only involved a single bundle ( r = 0.590; P = .006). Conclusion: The surgeons surveyed in this study did not consistently agree on candidates for ACL repair using MRI alone.


Author(s):  
Jorge Pablo Batista ◽  
Jorge Chahla ◽  
Miki Dalmau-Pastor ◽  
Rodrigo Maestu ◽  
Kyle N Kunze ◽  
...  

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are routinely treated with an ACL reconstruction. This is based on historical literature reporting high failure rates after ACL repairs in addition to the limited healing potential of the ACL. Recently, improved understanding of pathophysiology of ligamentous healing has led to increasing interest in treating proximal avulsions with excellent tissue quality in the acute setting, as this technique allows for ACL healing. Potential advantages of ACL repair include preservation of native proprioceptive and kinematics of the knee, avoidance of graft harvesting morbidity and the possibility to perform a primary ACL reconstruction in case of failure. As a consequence, several techniques for ACL repair have been proposed that can be performed in isolation or with suture augmentation. The primary aim of this technical note is to describe step-by-step the ACL repair technique with and without suture augmentation. The secondary aim of the current study is to review the indications, patient selection and advantages of the technique.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
A A Akhpashev ◽  
E A Dzhambinova ◽  
E A Zvezdkina ◽  
A S Kanaev ◽  
A N Tkalin

The article presents an analysis of surgical treatment results of 71 patients, operated on for rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the department of traumatology and orthopedics FSСС FMBA of Russia in 2013-2016. All patients underwent primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with autograft from tendons gracilis and semitendinosus. We assessed the condition of the operated knee joint on MRI after 3 - 6 - 12 - 24 months after surgery. Based on the criteria of MR studies, we concluded that the non-uniform diffuse change of MR signal from the graft on T2, PD FS can be traced in the first 2 years after surgery, reflecting process of ligamentization. In the first three months we also observed an increase in the diameter of the graft, which further regressed. Process of ligamentization ends within two years after the operation, whereby the signal from the MR-graft should be similar to the native ACL.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 386-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Wan ◽  
Christina Allen ◽  
Lynne Steinbach ◽  
Ramya Srinivasan

AbstractAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries that if left untreated can result in chronic instability, cartilage damage, meniscal tears, and ligamentous injuries, eventually leading to early osteoarthritis. ACL reconstruction surgeries are therefore increasingly being performed. Despite the fact that most patients achieve excellent postoperative results, patients can present with recurrent instability and pain. These patients often undergo imaging with radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or computed tomography. An understanding of the imaging appearance of the normal ACL reconstruction and common causes of failure is therefore essential for the interpreting radiologist. This article reviews surgical techniques for ACL reconstruction, highlighting recent technical advances, the normal imaging appearance after ACL reconstruction, etiologies for reconstruction failure, and the diagnosis of these with the aid of imaging.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2550-2556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Worsham ◽  
Walter R. Lowe ◽  
Dorcas Copa ◽  
Shelby Williams ◽  
Jacquelyn Kleihege ◽  
...  

Background: Loss of motion (LOM) remains a common complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and can be detrimental to patient outcomes after surgery. LOM is multifactorial, but nonsurgical and surgical solutions to this complex problem are available. A paucity of quality data exists evaluating clinical outcomes after the surgical treatment of patients with LOM after ACL reconstruction. Hypothesis: Patients undergoing surgical lysis of adhesions and manipulation under anesthesia for LOM after ACL reconstruction will exhibit decreased function, lower outcome scores, and delayed time of release to play when compared with matched controls without LOM. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3 Methods: A database of 1572 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction was sampled from 2013 to 2017 to identify a total of 58 patients (LOM group [n = 29] vs matched control group [n = 29]). Group comparisons were examined for patients requiring a second surgical procedure for LOM versus matched controls after ACL reconstruction for differences in surgical timing, self-reported International Knee Disability Committee scores, objective function at release to play, and subjective knee function at 2 years with the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation. The risk of a type I error was set at α = .05 for all statistical analyses. Results: Patients who underwent lysis of adhesions and manipulation under anesthesia for LOM after ACL reconstruction exhibited no differences in Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation knee function at 2 years when compared with matched controls (85.8 ± 14.9 vs 88.0 ± 10.8, P = .606). All patients met release-to-play criteria. Only International Knee Disability Committee scores ( P = .046) and single-legged hop testing ( P = .050) reached statistically significant differences, with higher scores in the control group. There was no difference in the time to release to play ( P = .034) or level of participation ( P = .180) between the control and surgical groups. Subjective function scores at 2 years were not significantly different between groups. Tourniquet time during the index ACL reconstruction was shorter in the control group ( P = .034). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that patients who undergo surgical treatment for LOM after ACL reconstruction can release to play at similar times but display relative deficits in single-legged-hop symmetry and lower self-reported function when compared with matched controls. Longer surgical times may increase the risk for LOM after ACL reconstruction. Registration: NCT03704376 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)


2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Braden C. Fleming ◽  
Paul D. Fadale ◽  
Michael J. Hulstyn ◽  
Robert M. Shalvoy ◽  
Heidi L. Oksendahl ◽  
...  

Background: The initial graft tension applied at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction alters joint contact and may influence cartilage health. The objective was to compare outcomes between 2 commonly used “laxity-based” initial graft tension protocols. Hypotheses: (1) The high-tension group would have less knee laxity, improved clinical and patient-oriented outcomes, and less cartilage damage than would the low-tension group after 36 months of healing. (2) The outcomes of the high-tension group would be equivalent to those of a matched control group. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: Ninety patients with isolated unilateral ACL injuries were randomized to undergo ACL reconstruction using 1 of 2 initial graft tension protocols: (1) autografts tensioned to restore normal anterior-posterior (AP) laxity at the time of surgery (ie, low tension; n = 46) and (2) autografts tensioned to overconstrain AP laxity by 2 mm (ie, high tension; n = 44). Sixty matched healthy patients formed the control group. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at 6, 12, and 36 months after surgery. Results: No significant differences were found between the 2 initial graft tension protocols for any of the outcome measures at 36 months. However, there were differences when comparing the 2 treatment groups to the control group. On average, AP laxity was 2 mm greater in the ACL-reconstructed groups than in the control group ( P < .007). International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee evaluation scores, peak isokinetic knee extension torques, and 4 of 5 Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were significantly worse than the control group ( P < .001, P < .027, and P < .05, respectively). Short Form–36 Health Survey (SF-36) scores and reinjury rates were similar between groups at 36 months. Although there were significant changes in radiography and magnetic resonance imaging present in the ACL-reconstructed knees of both treatment groups, the magnitude was relatively small and likely clinically insignificant at 36 months. Conclusion: Both laxity-based initial graft tension protocols produced similar outcomes without fully restoring joint function or patient-oriented outcomes (KOOS) when compared with the control group. There was minimal evidence of cartilage damage 36 months after surgery.


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