Complete Quadriceps Tendon Rupture With Concomitant Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Lateral Meniscus

Background: Acute anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) rupture is associated with a significant incidence of concomitant meniscal and chondral injuries. However, to our knowledge, the incidence of these concomitant injuries in skeletally immature(SI) versus skeletally mature(SM) patients has not been directly compared. SI patients are a unique subset of ACL patients because surgical considerations are different, and subsequent re-tear rates are high. However, it is unclear if the rates and types of meniscal and chondral injuries differ. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare associated meniscal and chondral injury patterns between SI and SM patients under age 21, treated with ACL reconstruction for an acute ACL tear. We hypothesized that no significant differences would be seen. Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective review of primary ACL reconstructions performed from January 2012 to April 2020. Patients were stratified by skeletal maturity status based on a review of records and imaging. Demographic data was recorded, including age, sex, and BMI. Associated intra-articular meniscal injury, including laterality, location, configuration, and treatment were determined. Articular cartilage injury location, grade, and treatments were determined. Revision rates, non-ACL reoperation rates, and time to surgery were also compared between the two groups. Results: 785 SM and 208 SI patients met inclusion criteria. Mean BMI and mean age were significantly different between groups. Meniscal tear rates were significantly greater in SM versus SI patients in medial meniscus tears(P<.001), medial posterior horn tears(P=.001), medial longitudinal tears configuration(P=.007), lateral Radial configuration(P=.002), and lateral complex tears(P=.011). Medial repairs(P<.001) and lateral partial meniscectomies(P=.004) were more likely in the SM group. There was a significantly greater number of chondral injuries in the SM versus SI groups in the Lateral(p=.007) and medial compartments(P<.001). SM patients had a significantly increased number of outerbridge grade 1 and 2 in the Lateral(P<.001) and Medial Compartments(P=.013). ACL revisions(P=.019) and Non-ACL reoperations(P=.002) were significantly greater in the SI patients compared to SM. No other significant differences were noted. Conclusion: SM ACL injured patients have a significantly higher rate of medial meniscus tears and medial longitudinal configurations treated with repair, and a significantly higher rate of radial and/or complex lateral meniscus tears treated with partial meniscectomy compared to the SI group. We also found a significantly higher rate of both medial and lateral compartment chondral injuries, mainly grades 1 and 2, in SM compared to SI patients. Conversely, SI ACL reconstruction patients had higher revision and subsequent non-ACL surgery rates.

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SEX, PATELLAR TENDON GRAFT, AND EARLY MOTION DEFICITS PREDICT ARTHROFIBROSIS AFTER PEDIATRIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967121s00090 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽

pp. 2325967121S0009

Author(s):

Abraham J. Ouweleen ◽

Tyler B. Hall ◽

Craig J. Finlayson ◽

Neeraj M. Patel

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Ligament Reconstruction ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Quadriceps Tendon ◽

Extension Deficit ◽

Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Background: Arthrofibrosis remains a concerning early complication after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in children and adolescents. Previous studies suggest that those receiving patellar tendon (PT) autograft may be at higher risk than hamstrings tendon (HT), but there is little data regarding this complication in patients receiving quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for arthrofibrosis following pediatric ACLR with attention to graft type. Methods: The medical records of patients that underwent primary ACLR at a single tertiary children’s hospital were reviewed for this retrospective cohort study. Those with multiligament reconstructions, lateral extra-articular tenodesis procedures, or a modified MacIntosh reconstruction were excluded. Arthrofibrosis was defined as a deficit of 10 degrees of extension and/or 20 degrees of flexion at 3 months after ACLR. Demographic data, intra-operative findings and techniques, and post-operative motion and complications were recorded. Univariate analysis was followed by purposeful entry logistic regression to control for confounding factors. Results: A total of 378 patients were included in the analysis, of which there were 180 PT, 103 HT, and 95 QT grafts. The mean age was 15.9±1.7 years and 188 (49.7%) were female. In univariate analysis, the rate of arthrofibrosis was 1.9% for HT, 6.3% for QT, and 10.0% for PT (p=0.04). Females developed arthrofibrosis more frequently than males (10.6% vs. 3.2%, p=0.004). Additionally, those that ultimately experienced this complication had lower median flexion at 6 weeks after ACLR (88 vs. 110 degrees, p<0.001). After controlling for covariates in a multivariate model, PT graft raised the odds of arthrofibrosis 6.2 times compared to HT (95% CI 1.4-27.6, p=0.02), but there were no significant differences between QT and other graft types. Females were at 4.2 times higher odds than males (95% CI 1.6-10.8; p=0.003). Patients that were unable to attain 90 degrees of flexion 6 weeks after ACLR had 14.7 times higher odds of eventually developing arthrofibrosis (95% CI 5.4-39.8; p<0.001). Finally, those with an extension deficit of ≥5 degrees 6 weeks after ACLR had 4.7 times higher odds of experiencing this complication (95% CI 1.8-12.2, p=0.001). Conclusion: After adjusting for multiple covariates, PT autograft, female sex, and motion deficits at 6 weeks after ACLR (<90 degrees of flexion or extension deficit ≥5 degrees) were predictive of arthrofibrosis in children and adolescents. Quadriceps tendon autograft did not increase the risk of this complication.

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Lateral femoral notch sign and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures and their associated injuries in the setting of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00402-021-04105-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander Korthaus ◽

Malte Warncke ◽

Geert Pagenstert ◽

Matthias Krause ◽

Karl-Heinz Frosch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Tibial Plateau ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Lateral Meniscus ◽

Ligament Injury ◽

Ligament Rupture ◽

Impression Fracture ◽

Anterior Cruciate ◽

Lateral Femoral Notch ◽

Femoral Notch

Abstract Introduction ACL injury is one of the most common injuries of the knee joint in sports. As accompanying osseous injuries of the ACL rupture a femoral impression the so-called lateral femoral notch sign and a posterolateral fracture of the tibial plateau are described. However, frequency, concomitant ligament injuries and when and how to treat these combined injuries are not clear. There is still a lack of understanding with which ligamentous concomitant injuries besides the anterior cruciate ligament injury these bony injuries are associated. Materials and methods One hundred fifteen MRI scans with proven anterior cruciate ligament rupture performed at our center were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of a meniscus, collateral ligament injury, a femoral impression, or a posterolateral impression fracture. Femoral impressions were described according to their local appearance and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures were described using the classification of Menzdorf et al. Results In 29 cases a significant impression in the lateral femoral condyle was detected. There was a significantly increased number of lateral meniscal (41.4% vs. 18.6% p = 0.023) and medial ligament (41.4% vs. 22.1%; p = 0.040) injuries in the group with a lateral femoral notch sign. 104 patients showed a posterolateral bone bruise or fracture of the tibial plateau. Seven of these required an intervention according to Menzdorf et al. In the group of anterior cruciate ligament injuries with posterolateral tibial plateau fracture significantly more lateral meniscus injuries were seen (p = 0.039). Conclusion In the preoperative planning of ACL rupture accompanied with a positive femoral notch sign, attention should be paid to possible medial collateral ligament and lateral meniscus injuries. As these are more likely to occur together. A posterolateral impression fracture of the tibial plateau is associated with an increased likelihood of the presence of a lateral meniscal injury. This must be considered in surgical therapy and planning and may be the indication for necessary early surgical treatment.

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