Kinematics and Contact Stress Analysis of Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions: Do the All-Epiphyseal and Complete Transphyseal Reconstructions Restore Anterior and Rotational Stability?

Purpose: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most frequently performed reconstructive surgery in the knee. Biomechanical studies have shown that double bundle (DB) reconstruction is better than single bundle (SB) reconstruction with regard to rotational stability. It is postulated that resection of ACL fibres that remain in continuity may be counterproductive for the knee as these fibres have the capacity to produce collagen. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy among selective bundle, DB and SB ACL reconstructions over a 2-year post-operative follow-up period. Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted for comparison between selective bundle, DB and SB reconstructions. Between 2012 and 2014, 291 ACL reconstructions were performed. Of these, 68 patients had selective ACL reconstructions (group SLB), 147 had DB ACL reconstructions (group DB) and 76 had SB ACL reconstructions (group SB). Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, and all patients provided informed consent. Clinical results were assessed with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm and Tegner scores. Stability was measured using Lachman, pivot shift and anterior drawer stress tests using the KT1000 at 30° of knee flexion. Results: There was no significant difference in ligament grade, function grade, IKDC grade, as well as Tegner and Lysholm means among all three groups after a 2-year follow-up period. Conclusion: Selective bundle reconstruction provides comparable results to DB and SB reconstruction techniques. It is a viable alternative for patients with partial tears.

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Biomechanical Evaluation of Different Techniques in Double Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Finite Element Analysis

Journal of Biomimetics Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/jbbte.13.55 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 55-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Rong Ying Huang ◽

Hong Guang Zheng ◽

Qiang Xu

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Soft Tissues ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Tibial Tunnel ◽

Double Bundle ◽

Rotational Stability ◽

Single Bundle ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries commonly in traffic accident, sports activities and extreme sports. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a common practice to help the patients restore the knee stability. However, there is no previous comparison study of single bundle reconstruction, double-femoral double-tibial tunnel reconstruction, single-femoral double-tibial tunnel reconstruction, and double-femoral single-tibial tunnel reconstruction with respect to biomechanical characteristics such as rotational stability, force and stress inside the ligament and grafts, stresses inside the soft tissues. In this study, we developed a pair of three-dimensional finite element models of a lower extremity including femur, tibia, fibula, cartilage, meniscus, and four major ligaments at 0°，25°，60° and 80°of knee flexion. Based on the intact models, single bundle reconstruction, double-femoral double-tibial tunnel reconstruction, single-femoral double-tibial tunnel reconstruction, and double-femoral single-tibial tunnel reconstruction models were also developed. Then, the anterior tibial translations, the forces and stresses inside the ACL and ACL replacements, as well as the stresses inside the menisci, femoral and tibial cartilage were predicted under a combined rotatory load of 10Nm valgus moment and 5 Nm internal torque, respectively using finite element analysis. The rotational stability, ligament forces and stresses in the menisci, femoral and tibial cartilage following double bundle augmentation were superior to the other reconstruction techniques, while there is little advantage in ligament stress compared to that of the single bundle reconstruction. We conclude that double-femoral double-tibial tunnel reconstruction may have advantages with regard to biomechanical characteristics such as rotational stability, force inside the ligament and grafts, stresses inside the soft tissues.

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