scholarly journals Evaluating the Reliability Of MRI In Predicting The Degree Of ACL Tears In Pre-operative Planning For The Surgical Treatment Of ACL Tears: A Retrospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Connors ◽  
Henry Shu ◽  
Jennifer Thomas ◽  
Stephen Lockey ◽  
Evan Argintar
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Full Thickness ◽  
Acl Repair ◽  
Tibial Spine ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
Femoral Attachment ◽  
Diagnostic Arthroscopy ◽  
Partial Tears

Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair has regained interest in recent years as it has been demonstrated to provide favorable outcomes in patients with proximal ACL tears or avulsions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the primary method uses to pre-operatively evaluate the ACL injury and help decide whether to perform an ACL repair or reconstruction. However, intraoperative findings often do not correspond with the MRI findings. This discrepancy may cause the surgeon to deviate from their initial surgical plan. Furthermore, some surgeons may disregard the possibility of performing an ACL repair solely due to the MRI report. Thus, potential candidates for ACL repair may be ignored due to the MRI report. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of MRI in predicting the degree of ACL tears planning for surgical treatment. Methods: We reviewed patients that underwent ACL repairs by a single surgeon at our institution between June 2015 to August 2018. All patients were initially seen for an ACL injury and were consulted for both ACL reconstruction and ACL repair. The final treatment decision was made following diagnostic arthroscopy. An ACL repair was performed only if the patient had a proximal tear, an intact but vertical ACL graft from a previous ACLR, or a tibial spine avulsion. Any patients that were missing MRI reports or operative reports were excluded. Pre-operative MRI of sagittal views of the ACL were then reviewed by a single radiologist and rated on integrity of the ligament’s midsubstance, and its tibial and femoral attachments. Intraoperative reports were then compared with the MRI reports. Results: We identified 40 consecutive ACL repairs of which 25 were included. Fifteen patients were excluded due to missing either operative or MRI reports. Of the included patients, 16 were males (64%) and the mean ± SD of age was 33.5±9.5 years (range 14-50 years). Two patients also had previous ACL reconstructions that failed and were subsequently revised with an ACL repair. MRIs demonstrated 15 full thickness tears with 9 torn at midsubstance, 2 torn at the tibial attachment, and 4 torn at the femoral attachment. Nine were reported as partial tears, with 4 torn at midsubstance, 2 torn at tibial attachment, and 3 torn at femoral attachment. One MRI reported no tear present. Intraoperatively, the surgeon identified 11 full-thickness tears, 11 partial tears, 2 tibial spine avulsions, and 2 incidences where a previous ACL reconstruction had failed due to a vertical graft. All of the full-thickness and partial tears were at the femoral attachment. The overall MRI sensitivity for the presence of an ACL injury was 96% with 2 false positives (8%), both of which revisions for failed ACLR. The overall accuracy was 32%, with specificity for tear-degree and tear-location 44% and 36%, respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MRI may not be completely reliable in assessing the degree and location of an ACL tear. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that some patients who had repairable ACLs had MRI reports that suggested otherwise. Thus, our findings suggest that the surgeon should not solely rely on MRI imaging for ruling out possible ACL repair. This may also suggest that diagnostic tools, such as in-office diagnostic arthroscopy, be used in conjunction with MRI to more accurately assess the nature of an ACL tear. Future prospective studies with a larger sample size are necessary to confirm our findings that MRI may be less reliable for assessing ACL repair candidates.

scholarly journals IS EARLY EXCELLENT ISOKINETIC AND FUNCTIONAL TESTING FOLLOWING ACL RECONSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH OPEN-PHYSES PREDICTIVE OF SUBSEQUENT ACL DISRUPTION?

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0007
Author(s):  
Heath P. Melugin ◽  
Brian T. Samuelsen ◽  
Mario Hevesi ◽  
Bruce A. Levy ◽  
Diane L. Dahm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Graft Failure ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Functional Testing ◽  
Isokinetic Testing ◽  
Open Physes ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
Delayed Group

Introduction: It is unknown whether functional and isokinetic testing at 6 months following ACL reconstruction in patients with open-physes correlates with longer term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare subsequent ACL rupture risk, knee function, and activity level in patients with open-physes who had excellent 6-month testing to those who did not. Methods: Between the years of 2000 and 2015, 86 patients with open-physes underwent ACL reconstruction and had functional and isokinetic testing performed at 6-months post-operatively. Thirty-four (40%) tested in the excellent range in all categories of both functional and isokinetic testing and were labeled the excellent group. The remaining 52 (60%) patients were labeled the delayed testing group. Data regarding patient, injury, and surgical characteristics were retrospectively collected. The rate of second ACL injury as well as clinical outcome scores were collected postoperatively. Results: Graft rupture rate was 23.4% (n = 8) in the excellent group and 15.4% (n = 8) in the delayed group (p = 0.51). In the excellent group, 20.5% (n = 7) had a contralateral ACL tear versus 11.5% (n = 6) in the delayed group (p = 0.40). Five patients in the excellent group and 4 patients in the delayed group sustained both graft failure and contralateral ACL tear. The overall prevalence of second ACL injury was 29% in the excellent group and 23% in the delayed group. The delayed group returned to sport at an average of 8.8 months whereas the excellent group returned at an average of 6.6 months (p < 0.01). At mean follow up of 3.59 years, the excellent group had a higher Tegner activity level (8.9 versus 8.3) than the delayed group (p < 0.02). Conclusion: Pediatric patients with open-physes who had excellent isokinetic strength and functional testing 6-months postoperatively returned to sport sooner than those who did not. There was no statistical difference in either graft failure or contralateral ACL disruption between these groups. However, both groups had unacceptably high rates of second ACL injury (29% for the excellent group and 23% for the delayed group). Significance: Excellent 6 month return of strength and function was not protective of subsequent ACL disruption, the rate of which remains dismal within this pediatric population. Development of more sensitive functional measures for children could help to change these poor outcomes and guide clinicians when to allow return to sport.

scholarly journals “RELATIVE” RISK OF ACL RE-INJURY

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0009
Author(s):  
Joshua T. Bram ◽  
Nakul S. Talathi ◽  
Christopher J. DeFrancesco ◽  
Neeraj M. Patel ◽  
Theodore J. Ganley
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Graft Failure ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Degree Relative ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
Graft Rupture ◽  
Meniscus Tears ◽  
History Of ◽  
Primary Acl Reconstruction

Background Several studies have examined ACL injury history among relatives of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, but they have primarily analyzed adult populations with variable results. Additionally, few studies have examined concomitant injuries or post-operative outcomes among pediatric patients with a family history of ACL tear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the proportion of pediatric ACL patients with a first degree relative who had suffered an ACL tear while also examining concomitant meniscal or ligamentous injuries and subsequent complication rates. Methods 1009 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at an urban tertiary care children’s hospital between January 2009 and May 2016 were contacted via email and/or telephone and asked to complete a follow-up survey. Data collected included subsequent complications – including graft rupture, contralateral ACL injury, and meniscus tears – along with information regarding any relatives who had suffered an ACL tear. Patient medical records were reviewed to determine the age of the patient at the time of surgery as well as concomitant meniscus and ligamentous injuries at the time of injury. Results 425 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction completed the survey. The mean age at surgery was 15.0? 2.4 years with a mean follow-up time of 4.6? 2.1 years. Patients were stratified into three groups by the number of first degree relatives (parent or sibling) who had an ACL tear history: no relatives, one relative, or more than one relative. 101 respondents (23.8%) reported at least one first degree relative who had previously torn an ACL. 15 (3.5%) had more than one first degree relative with an ACL tear. There were no differences in the age at time of surgery or the number of concomitant meniscus and ligamentous injuries suffered across the three stratified groups. While children with zero or one affected first degree relative had similar rates of graft failure (11.4% and 9.3%, respectively), those with two or more affected first-degree relatives had a significantly higher graft failure rate (40.0%, p=0.003). There were no differences in the number of post-operative contralateral ACL tears (p=0.438) or meniscus tears (p=0.477) across the groups. When these complications were analyzed together as one outcome, patients with more than one affected first-degree relative suffered more combined graft ruptures, contralateral ACL tears, and meniscal tears (53.3%) than patients with zero (21.9%) or only one affected first degree relative (22.1%, p=0.02). This group of patients also suffered more total complications that required surgical intervention (66.7%) than patients with zero (21.0%) or only one affected first degree family member (22.1%, p<0.001). Conclusion/Significance Patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction who have a strong family history of ACL tear appear more likely to suffer a post-operative graft rupture and suffer a complication requiring surgery.

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Cartilage Damage ◽  
Maximum Force ◽  
Impulse Loading ◽  
Acl Repair ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Acl Transection

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.

scholarly journals Concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesions do not affect patient-reported outcomes at minimum 10-year follow-up after ACL reconstruction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Wang ◽  
Cathrine N. Eftang ◽  
Svend Ulstein ◽  
Asbjørn Årøen ◽  
Rune B. Jakobsen
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cartilage Lesion ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Study Patient ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Full Thickness ◽  
Cartilage Lesions ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Purpose To compare patients with a concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesion and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to patients with an isolated ACL injury at 10–15 years post ACL reconstruction. Methods This is a longitudinal follow-up of a cohort of 89 patients that were identified in the Norwegian National Knee Ligament Registry and included in the index study in 2007. The study group consisted of 30 patients that underwent ACL reconstruction and had a concomitant, isolated full-thickness cartilage lesion (International Cartilage Repair Society [ICRS] grade 3–4). Each study patient was matched with two control patients who underwent ACL reconstruction but had no cartilage lesions (ICRS grade 1–4) (n = 59). At a median follow-up of 10.2 years (range 9.9–15.6), 65 patients (74%) completed the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), which was the main outcome measure, resulting in 23 pairs after matching. Results At a follow-up of 10–15 years after ACL reconstruction, no significant differences in KOOS were found between patients with a concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesion and patients without cartilage lesions. There was also no significant difference between the two groups when comparing the change over time in KOOS scores from preoperative to follow-up. Both groups showed significant improvement in all KOOS subscales from preoperative to follow-up, except for in the Symptoms subscale for the control group. The greatest improvement was in the QoL subscale for the study group. Conclusion ACL-reconstructed patients with a full-thickness cartilage lesion did not report worse outcomes at 10–15 years after surgery compared with patients with an isolated ACL injury. Our findings support that there is no long-term negative effect of a concomitant cartilage lesion in an ACL-reconstructed knee. These findings should be considered when discussing treatment and informing about the expected long-term outcome after ACL reconstruction to patients with such combined injuries. Level of evidence II.

scholarly journals Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Professional Sumo Wrestlers: A Case Series

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712090369
Author(s):  
Sadanori Shimizu ◽  
Tsuyoshi Nagase ◽  
Tomohiko Tateishi ◽  
Teruhiko Nakagawa ◽  
Masamitsu Tsuchiya
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common traumatic injuries in professional sumo wrestlers. Further, ipsilateral reinjuries or contralateral ACL injuries after ACL reconstruction can occur in sumo wrestlers. The incidence of ipsilateral reinjury and contralateral ACL injury after ACL reconstruction ranges from 3% to 13% in a healthy athletic population. Purpose: To investigate the current status of second ACL injuries after ACL reconstruction in sumo wrestlers. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Between 1988 and 2015, a total of 139 primary ACL reconstructions were performed in professional sumo wrestlers at our hospital. After exclusion of cases of multiple ligament knee reconstruction and patients in whom the contralateral ACL had been injured previously, 110 cases were included in this study. We investigated the number of second injuries, time from primary reconstruction to second injury, treatment method, and change in official sumo ranking after second injuries. The chi-square test, Student t test, and Fisher exact text were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among 110 wrestlers who underwent ACL reconstruction, second injuries after primary ACL reconstruction occurred in 22 cases (20.0%). Among them, 14 cases (12.7%) entailed ipsilateral reinjury, 11 (10.0%) entailed contralateral injury, and 3 involved combined rerupture and contralateral injury. As for surgical treatment, 5 revision ACL reconstructions were performed for ipsilateral reinjury (35.7%), and 7 ACL reconstructions were performed for contralateral injury (63.6%). Surgical treatment was not performed for the remaining cases. Wrestlers who were treated by revision or contralateral ACL reconstruction after the second injury were demoted in rank for 3 to 4 tournaments but overtook the nonoperative treatment group in ranking by 2 years postoperatively; all athletes initially were demoted in rank after the second injury. Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate instances of ipsilateral reinjuries and contralateral ACL injuries after ACL reconstruction in professional athletes in heavyweight combat sports. The incidences of ipsilateral reinjury and contralateral ACL injury after ACL reconstruction in professional sumo wrestlers were relatively higher than those reported in previous studies.

scholarly journals Association of Prior Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear With Decreased Career Longevity in Women’s National Basketball Association

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 232596712110092
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Tramer ◽  
Lafi S. Khalil ◽  
Toufic R. Jildeh ◽  
Mohammad Sattar ◽  
Alexander Ziedas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
And Performance

Background: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s basketball exceeds that of men. There is a paucity of data regarding career performance in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes with a history of ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To determine whether WNBA athletes with a history of ACL injury prior to professional play have reduced career game utilization, defined as games played and started and minutes per game (MPG), as well as statistical performance, defined by player efficiency rating (PER). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were 42 WNBA players from 1997 to 2018 who had a history of ACL reconstruction before entering professional leagues. Body mass index (BMI), age, and position were collected for each player. Career data and performance statistics were likewise collected for each player’s entire WNBA career. A control group of WNBA players with no history of ACL injury were matched by position, BMI, and age at the time of WNBA debut. Statistics compared game utilization and performance to assess the impact of ACL reconstruction. Results: Athletes who sustained an ACL tear before entering the league played in fewer games per season in their first 3 professional seasons compared with healthy controls (24.2 ± 8.4 vs 28.2 ± 6.1; P = .02). Among athletes with a history of ACL reconstruction, 11 (26.2%) played only a single WNBA season, while no control athletes played in just 1 season. Additionally, athletes who had a previous ACL tear started significantly fewer games per season (9.0 ± 9.4 vs 14.0 ± 9.0; P < .01) and played fewer MPG (15.5 ± 7.2 vs 20.7 ± 5.5; P < .01) during their WNBA career. Athletes with a history of ACL tear had significantly shorter WNBA careers (4.8 ± 4.1 vs 8.1 ± 3.3 seasons; P < .001). Total professional play duration (WNBA + overseas) was significantly reduced in players with an ACL tear compared with controls ( P < .05). PER was not significantly different between cohorts at any time point. Conclusion: WNBA athletes with a history of an ACL tear before professional play had decreased career game utilization and workload throughout their career despite having similar PER compared with healthy controls.

scholarly journals Increased Total Cost and Lack of Diagnostic Utility for Emergency Department Visits After ACL Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712110067
Author(s):  
Lambert T. Li ◽  
Carlin Chuck ◽  
Steven L. Bokshan ◽  
Brett D. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Background: Patients are commonly evaluated at the emergency department (ED) with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, but providers without orthopaedics training may struggle to correctly diagnose these injuries. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that few patients would be diagnosed with an ACL tear while in the ED and that these patients would be of lower socioeconomic status and more likely to have public insurance. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The 2017 State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database (SASD) and State Emergency Department Database (SEDD) from the state of Florida were utilized in this study. Cases with Current Procedural Terminology code 29888 (arthroscopically aided ACL reconstruction [ACLR]) were selected from the SASD, and data from the SEDD were matched to patients who had an ED visit for a knee injury within 120 days before ACLR. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in patient and surgical variables between the ED visit and nonvisit patient groups. A generalized linear model was created to model the effect of ED visit on total cost for an ACL injury. Results: While controlling for differences in patient characteristics and concomitant procedure usage, a visit to the ED added $4587 in total cost ( P < .001). The ED visit cohort contained a greater proportion of patients with Medicaid (20.2% vs 9.1%), patients who were Black (18.4% vs 10.3%), and patients in the lowest income quartile (34.4% vs 25.0%) ( P < .001 for all). In the ED visit cohort, 14.4% of patients received an allograft versus 10.1% in the non-ED visit cohort ( P = .001) despite having a similar mean age. An ACL sprain was diagnosed in only 29 of the 645 (4.5%) patients who visited the ED. Conclusion: Utilizing the ED for care after an ACL injury was expensive, averaging a $4587 increase in total cost associated with ACLR. However, patients rarely left with a definitive diagnosis, with only 4.5% of patients who underwent ACLR being correctly diagnosed with an ACL tear in the ED. This additional cost was levied disproportionately on patients of low socioeconomic status and patients with Medicaid.

scholarly journals High rate of second ACL injury following ACL reconstruction in male professional footballers: an updated longitudinal analysis from 118 players in the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study

2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-103555
Author(s):  
Francesco Della Villa ◽  
Martin Hägglund ◽  
Stefano Della Villa ◽  
Jan Ekstrand ◽  
Markus Waldén
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Career Length ◽  
Increased Risk

BackgroundStudies on subsequent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and career length in male professional football players after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) are scarce.AimTo investigate the second ACL injury rate, potential predictors of second ACL injury and the career length after ACLR.Study designProspective cohort study.SettingMen’s professional football.Methods118 players with index ACL injury were tracked longitudinally for subsequent ACL injury and career length over 16.9 years. Multivariable Cox regression analysis with HR was carried out to study potential predictors for subsequent ACL injury.ResultsMedian follow-up was 4.3 (IQR 4.6) years after ACLR. The second ACL injury rate after return to training (RTT) was 17.8% (n=21), with 9.3% (n=11) to the ipsilateral and 8.5% (n=10) to the contralateral knee. Significant predictors for second ACL injury were a non-contact index ACL injury (HR 7.16, 95% CI 1.63 to 31.22) and an isolated index ACL injury (HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.06 to 7.07). In total, 11 of 26 players (42%) with a non-contact isolated index ACL injury suffered a second ACL injury. RTT time was not an independent predictor of second ACL injury, even though there was a tendency for a risk reduction with longer time to RTT. Median career length after ACLR was 4.1 (IQR 4.0) years and 60% of players were still playing at preinjury level 5 years after ACLR.ConclusionsAlmost one out of five top-level professional male football players sustained a second ACL injury following ACLR and return to football, with a considerably increased risk for players with a non-contact or isolated index injury.

scholarly journals 20-Year Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Tendon Autograft: The Catastrophic Effect of Age and Posterior Tibial Slope

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J. Salmon ◽  
Emma Heath ◽  
Hawar Akrawi ◽  
Justin P. Roe ◽  
James Linklater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Degenerative Change ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Hamstring Tendon ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Acl Graft ◽  
Hamstring Tendon Autograft ◽  
Graft Rupture ◽  
Tendon Autograft

Background: No well-controlled studies have compared the long-term outcome of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft between adolescents and adults. Increased posterior tibial slopes (PTSs) have been reported in the ACL-injured versus controls, but the effect of PTS on the outcome after reconstruction is relatively unexplored. Purpose: To compare the prospective longitudinal outcome of “isolated” ACL ruptures treated with anatomic endoscopic ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft over 20 years in adolescent and adult cohorts and to examine factors for repeat ACL injury. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A single-surgeon series of 200 consecutive patients undergoing isolated primary ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft were prospectively studied. Subjects were assessed preoperatively and at 2, 7, 15, and 20 years postoperatively. Outcomes included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Knee Evaluation, IKDC subjective scores, KT-1000 instrumented laxity testing, and radiological evaluation of degenerative change and medial tibial slope. Twenty-year outcomes were compared between those who underwent surgery at the age of 18 years or younger (adolescent group, n = 39) and those who underwent surgery when older than 18 years (adult group, n = 161). Results: At 20 years, 179 of 200 subjects were reviewed (89.5%). ACL graft rupture occurred in 37 subjects and contralateral ACL injury in 22 subjects. Of those with intact ACL grafts at 20 years, outcomes were not statistically different between adolescents and adults for the variables of IKDC subjective score ( P = .29), return to preinjury activity level ( P = .84), current activity level ( P = .69), or degree of radiological degenerative change at 20 years ( P = .51). The adolescent group had a higher proportion of grade 1 ligamentous laxity testing compared with the adult group ( P = .003). Overall, ACL graft survival at 20 years was 86% for adults and 61% for adolescents (hazard ration, 3.3; P = .001). The hazard for ACL graft rupture was increased by 4.8 in adolescent males and 2.5 in adolescent females compared with adults. At 20 years, the ACL survival for adolescents with a PTS of ≥12° was 22%. The hazard for ACL graft rupture was increased by 11 in adolescents with a PTS of ≥12° ( P = .001) compared with adults with a PTS <12°. Conclusion: Repeat ACL injury after isolated ACL reconstruction is common, occurring in 1 in 3 over 20 years. In the absence of further injury, isolated ACL reconstruction using this technique was associated with good long-term outcomes with respect to patient-reported outcomes and return to sports, regardless of age. However, mild ligament laxity and ACL graft rupture after ACL reconstruction are significantly more common in adolescents, especially adolescent males, compared with adults. PTS of 12° or more is the strongest predictor of repeat ACL injury, and its negative effect is most pronounced in adolescents.

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