To compare the early functional and clinical results, between single (SB) and double-bundle (DB) of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstrings (HS). Thirty-six patients from 17 to 36 years old (average age 23), 22 ♂ and 14 ♀, from January 2006 to May 2008, were randomly allocated for ACL reconstruction with HS (SB – DB). Eighteen patients underwent a 4-stranded SB reconstruction (group A) and the remaining 18 underwent an anatomic, 2-stranded DB ACL reconstruction with 2 tibial and 2 femoral tunnel technique (group B), by using the Smith &
Nephew instrumentation system. The follow-up was from 8 to 22 months (average 16 months) for both groups and included clinical evaluation (pivot-shift test, anterior laxity test with KT-1000 arthrometer and Lysholm knee score) and radiographs. There were no statistically significant difference in the results between the 2 groups with regard to the pivot-shift test and the Lysholm score (SB: mean 91, DB: mean 89) (Mann-Whitney test, T-test). The anterior laxity was not significantly different between group A (mean, 2.2mm) and group B (mean, 0.9mm), according to KT-1000 measurements. Rotational stability, as evaluated by pivot-shift test, was better in group B than in group A, but statistical analysis showed no significant difference. The average operation time was longer in DB (110 min) compared to SB (80 min). There were no infections, though one patient of each group was found to be complicated with fixed flexion and extension lag >
5°; and underwent arthroscopic lysis. Our study shows no statistically significant advantage of DB versus SB ACL reconstruction, concerning the clinical evaluations and the complications
All patients were operated by ligamentoplasty with palmaris longus by medial incision, fenestration of the medial epicondyl and olecranon and transoseus pivoting of the palmaris longus which was enforced by 2 anchor sutures. An elbow flexion-extension functional splint was applied postoperatively, initially fixated between 110–85 degrees. The splint was removed 2 months postoperatively, while full rang of motion has been obtained.
All traumatic cases happened almost 2 weeks before operation except three which caused between 2 and 6 months earlier. In the 2 diabetic cases the lesion appeared between 3 and 5 month ago. We have performed: 9 sural flaps, 5 perforator-posterior tibial artery flap, 1 medial plantar, 4 based on distal perforators of the peroneal artery, 1 Saphenous, 2 muscular flaps. All patients were between 17 and 81 years all and the follow up between 8 month and 2 years. Everywhere before the flap we performed surgical debridement. As supplementary combined reconstructive technique we performed: 1. Mega papineau technique, 2. Bone filling, 3. Distraction osteogennesis, with spatial Taylor frame.
These flaps are better tolerated by the patient than the traditional techniques and safer, less demanding and faster to perform than the free tissue transfers.