RetroBRACE - Clinical and Functional Outcomes 2 Years After Primary ACL Repair (Internal Bracing)

Context: Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is among the most common orthopaedic injuries, and reconstruction of a ruptured ACL is a common orthopaedic procedure. In general, surgical intervention is necessary to restore stability to the injured knee, and to prevent meniscal damage. Along with surgery, intense postoperative physical therapy is needed to restore function to the injured extremity. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has been the standard of care in recent decades, and advances in surgical technology have reintroduced the prospect of augmented primary repair of the native ACL via a variety of methods. Evidence Acquisition: A search of PubMed database of articles and reviews available in English was performed through 2020. The search terms ACLR, anterior cruciate ligament repair, bridge enhanced acl repair, suture anchor repair, dynamic intraligamentary stabilization, internal bracing, suture ligament augmentation, and internal brace ligament augmentation were used. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 5. Results: No exact consensus exists on effective rehabilitation protocols after ACL repair techniques, as the variation in published protocols seem even greater than the variation in those for ACLR. For some techniques such as internal bracing and dynamic interligamentary stabilization, it is likely permissible for the patients to progress to full weightbearing and discontinue bracing sooner. However, caution should be applied with regard to earlier return to sport than after ACLR as to minimize risk for retear. Conclusion: More research is needed to address how physical therapies must adapt to these innovative repair techniques. Until that is accomplished, we recommend that physical therapists understand the differences among the various ACL surgery techniques discussed here and work with the surgeons to develop a rehabilitation protocol for their mutual patients. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): C.

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Is There a Role for Internal Bracing and Repair of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament? A Systematic Literature Review

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546517717956 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 2291-2298 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Carola F. van Eck ◽

Orr Limpisvasti ◽

Neal S. ElAttrache

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Success Rate ◽

Platelet Rich Plasma ◽

Primary Repair ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Young Patients ◽

Acl Repair ◽

Internal Bracing ◽

Electronic Database Search ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Background: Renewed interest has arisen in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair techniques. Hypothesis: ACL repair with or without some form of internal bracing could lead to good outcomes in a carefully selected subset of patients. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: An electronic database search was performed to identify 89 papers describing preclinical and clinical studies on the outcome of ACL repair. Results: Proximal ACL tear patterns showed a better healing potential with primary repair than distal or midsubstance tears. Some form of internal bracing increased the success rate of ACL repair. Improvement in the biological characteristics of the repair was obtained by bone marrow access by drilling tunnels or microfracture. Augmentation with platelet-rich plasma was beneficial only in combination with a structural scaffold. Skeletally immature patients had the best outcomes. Acute repair offered improved outcomes with regard to load, stiffness, laxity, and rerupture. Conclusion: ACL repair may be a viable option in young patients with acute, proximal ACL tears. The use of internal bracing, biological augmentation, and scaffold tissue may increase the success rate of repair.

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The Comparison of Clinical Result between Primary Repair of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with Additional Internal Bracing and Anatomic Single Bundle Reconstruction—A Retrospective Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10173948 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (17) ◽

pp. 3948

Author(s):

Dawid Szwedowski ◽

Łukasz Paczesny ◽

Jan Zabrzyński ◽

Maciej Gagat ◽

Marcin Domżalski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Repair ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Anterior Tibial Translation ◽

Single Bundle ◽

Acl Repair ◽

Anterior Tibial ◽

Internal Bracing ◽

Anterior Cruciate ◽

Tibial Translation ◽

Repair Group

Background: The current standard of treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is reconstruction (ACLR). This technique has some disadvantages: poor proprioception, donor site morbidity and the inability to restore joint kinematics. ACL repair could be an alternative treatment. The purpose of the study was to compare the stability and the function after ACL primary repair versus single-bundle ACLR. Methods: In a retrospective study, 12 patients underwent primary ACL repair with internal bracing, 15 patients underwent standard ACLR. Follow-up examinations were evaluated at up to 2 years postoperatively. One patient in the ACL repair group was lost to follow-up due to re-rupture. The absolute value of anterior tibial translation (ATT) and the side-to-side difference in the same patient (ΔATT) were evaluated using the GNRB arthrometer. The Lysholm knee scoring was obtained. Re-ruptures and other complications were recorded. Results: Anterior tibial translation (ATT) was significantly decreased in the ACL repair group compared with the ACLR group (5.31 mm vs. 7.18 mm, respectively; p = 0.0137). Arthrometric measurements demonstrated a mean side-to-side difference (ΔATT) 1.87 (range 0.2 to 4.9) mm significantly decreased compared to ACLR 3.36 (range 1.2–5.6 mm; p = 0.0107). The mean Lysholm score was 85.3 points in the ACL repair group and 89.9 in ACLR group. No significant differences between ACL repair and ACLR were found for the Lysholm score. There was no association between AP laxity and clinical outcomes. There were two complications in the internal bracing group: one patient had re-rupture and was treated by ACLR, another had limited extension and had arthroscopic debridement. Conclusions: Anterior tibial translation was significantly decreased after ACL repair. Additionally, the functional results after ACL repair with internal bracing were comparable with those after ACLR. It should be noted that the two complications occurred. The current study supports further development of ACL repair techniques.

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Anterior cruciate ligament – to repair or not to repair?

Chirurgia Narządów Ruchu i Ortopedia Polska ◽

10.31139/chnriop.2021.86.2.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 59-65

Author(s):

Piotr Wodziński ◽

◽

Andrzej Wielgus ◽

Łukasz Mucha ◽

Tomasz Mazurek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Sport Activity ◽

Return To Sport ◽

Acl Injury ◽

Actual State ◽

Type I ◽

Acl Repair ◽

Internal Bracing ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are one of the most frequent knee joint injuries, leading to instability which limits return to sport activity, and is one of osteoarthritis risk factors. Treatment issues are present since 1895, when Mayo Robertson performed first documented open ACL repair. Positive short-term results of open suturing led to rising popularity of this method, which in 70’s and 80’s became golden standard of ACL injury treatment. Feagin in his longterm observations noticed that nearly half of patients after open ACL repair, during first 5 years suffered from reappearing ACL tear. Since then, for many years reconstruction techniques with graft use became most popular technique. Increasing knowledge of ligament healing biology, creation of Sherman’s ACL injury location classification, development of arthroscopic techniques, connected with growing tendency for biological treatment caused increase in repair techniques interest. Most important potential benefits of this techniques are: limitation of perioperative trauma – no need to harvest graft, drill large tunnels, possible retention of additional ACL proprioceptive feeling, easier eventual reoperation. Effort to save patient’s ACL is especially indicated in case of acute trauma (depending on source up to 3-14 weeks from injury), with proximal tear (type I in Sherman classification) with good remnant quality. Most popular techniques of ACL repair are: proximal ACL attachment reinsertion, IBLA – Internal Bracing Ligament Augmentation and DIS – Dynamic Intraligamentary Stabilization. The aim of this study was to present actual state of knowledge concerning options of primary ACL repair, it’s results, indications, and sharing authors own experiences in this treatment methods. Preliminary, available in literature, results of studies concerning methods mentioned above are good and very good, comparable, and sometimes even superior to results of classical ACL reconstruction. However, there is lack of long-term studies, that might confirm increase in survivorship rate of repaired ACLs comparing to previous open suturing technique.

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Paediatric ACL repair reinforced with temporary internal bracing

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy ◽

10.1007/s00167-016-4150-x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 1845-1851 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

James O. Smith ◽

Sam K. Yasen ◽

Harry C. Palmer ◽

Breck R. Lord ◽

Edward M. Britton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acl Repair ◽

Internal Bracing

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Treatment of Acute Proximal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears—Part 2: The Role of Internal Bracing on Gap Formation and Stabilization of Repair Techniques

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119897423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 232596711989742 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Samuel Bachmaier ◽

Gregory S. DiFelice ◽

Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet ◽

Wiemi A. Douoguih ◽

Patrick A. Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Gap Formation ◽

Acl Repair ◽

Peak Loads ◽

Internal Bracing ◽

Internal Brace ◽

Anterior Cruciate ◽

Repair Techniques

Background: The latest biomechanical studies on some form of internal bracing have shown improved stabilization for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair, but gap formation and load-sharing function have not yet been reported. Hypothesis: Internal bracing of an adjustable ACL repair construct provides improved stabilization with reduced gap formation and higher residual loading on the ACL. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Internally braced ACL repair constructs with single– and double–cinch loop (CL) cortical buttons, a knotless suture anchor, and a single-CL cortical button with adjustable loop fixation (CLS-ALD) were tested (n = 20 each) in a porcine model at 4 different loads (n = 5 each) over 4000 cycles at 0.75 Hz (n = 80 total). The CLS-ALD technique allowed for additional preconditioning (10 cycles at 0.5 Hz). Test results of the isolated internal brace groups served as a baseline for comparison. Lastly, specimens were pulled to failure (50 mm/min) with a cut internal brace. Final loading and gap formation on the ACL repair construct as well as ultimate strength were analyzed. Results: A statistical significance for peak loads over peak elongation was found between the CLS-ALD and all other reinforced groups (analysis of covariance, P < .001). Accordingly, the adjustable repair technique showed improved load-bearing capability with the internal brace compared with all other fixed repair groups and revealed significantly higher loads than the knotted single-CL group. Also, significantly reduced gap formation was found for the CLS-ALD compared with all other groups ( P < .001), with no gap formation up to 150 N with a final gap of 0.85 ± 0.31 mm at 350 N. A significantly higher ultimate failure load (866.2 ± 104.0 N; P < .001) was found for the button-fixed internal brace group compared with all other groups. Conclusion: Internal bracing had a crucial role in improving the stabilization potential of ACL repair at loads occurring during normal daily activity. The added strength of the internal brace allowed for reducing peak loads on the ACL repair construct as well as restricting gap formation to below 3 mm at loads up to 350 N. Clinical Relevance: Improvements in the mechanical characteristics of current ACL repair techniques that enable reduced gap formation and allow for early range of motion and accelerated rehabilitation may strengthen the self-healing response with the formation of stable scar tissue.

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