Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical and radiological outcome of patients who suffer recurrent injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after reconstruction and require revision surgery.

The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of ‘isolated’ anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures treated with anatomical endoscopic reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft at a mean of 15 years (14.25 to 16.9). A total of 100 consecutive men and 100 consecutive women with ‘isolated’ ACL rupture underwent four-strand hamstring tendon reconstruction with anteromedial portal femoral tunnel drilling and interference screw fixation by a single surgeon. Details were recorded pre-operatively and at one, two, seven and 15 years post-operatively. Outcomes included clinical examination, subjective and objective scoring systems, and radiological assessment. At 15 years only eight of 118 patients (7%) had moderate or severe osteo-arthritic changes (International Knee Documentation Committee Grades C and D), and 79 of 152 patients (52%) still performed very strenuous activities. Overall graft survival at 15 years was 83% (1.1% failure per year). Patients aged < 18 years at the time of surgery and patients with > 2 mm of laxity at one year had a threefold increase in the risk of suffering a rupture of the graft (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was no increase in laxity of the graft over time. ACL reconstructive surgery in patients with an ‘isolated’ rupture using this technique shows good results 15 years post-operatively with respect to ligamentous stability, objective and subjective outcomes, and does not appear to cause osteoarthritis

We evaluated the long-term outcome of isolated endoscopically-assisted posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 26 patients using hamstring tendon autografts after failure of conservative management. At ten years after surgery the mean International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee score was 87 (. sd. 14) of a possible 100 points. Regular participation in moderate to strenuous activities was possible for only seven patients pre-operatively; this increased to 23 patients post-operatively. The mean Lysholm score improved from 64 (. sd. 15) to 90 (. sd. 14) at ten years (p = 0.001). At ten years endoscopic reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament with hamstring tendon autograft is effective in reducing knee symptoms. Of the series, 22 patients underwent radiological assessment for the development of osteoarthritis using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale. In four patients, grade 2 changes with loss of joint space was observed and another four patients showed osteophyte formation with moderate joint space narrowing (grade 3). These findings compared favourably with non-operatively managed injuries of the posterior cruciate ligament. This procedure for symptomatic patients with posterior cruciate ligament laxity who have failed conservative management offers good results

A total of 30 patients who underwent endoscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using quadrupled hamstring tendons, through a single drill hole in the femur, had MRI 24 to 28 months after operation. In 18 patients the scans revealed that both the anterior and posterior portions of the graft ran in parallel from the inside of the femoral to the tibial tunnel. In 12, the posterior bundle had moved anteriorly and the anterior bundle could not be identified at the anterodistal border of the femoral tunnel. The mean difference in the anterior laxity, when compared with the contralateral knee, was 2.0 ± 1.7 mm and 4.3 ± 2.8 mm for the two types, respectively. Damage to the anterior bundle may occur when using the endoscopic technique because of biomechanical disadvantages, including concentration of loading and repetitive bending stress in the anterior bundle at the opening of the femoral tunnel

A total of 90 patients with an isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) had a reconstruction using the ipsilateral patellar tendon secured with round-headed cannulated interference screws. Annual review for five years showed three failures of the graft (two traumatic and one atraumatic); none occurred after two years. Ten patients sustained a rupture of the contralateral ACL. At five years, 69% of those with surviving grafts continued to participate in moderate to strenuous activity. Using the International Knee Documentation Committee assessment, 90% reported their knee as being normal or nearly normal and had a median Lysholm knee score of 96 (64 to 100). Most patients (98%) had a pivot shift of grade 0 with the remaining 2% being grade 1; 90% of the group had a Lachman test of grade 0. The incidence of subsequent meniscectomy was similar in the reconstructed joint to that in the contralateral knee. Radiological examination was normal in 63 of 65 patients. Our study supports the view that reconstruction of the ACL is a reliable technique allowing full rehabilitation of the previously injured knee. In the presence of normal menisci there is a low incidence of osteoarthritic change despite continued participation in sporting activity.

We treated 90 patients with an isolated injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by reconstruction using a patellar tendon autograft and interference screw fixation.

Of these, 82 (91%) were available for review at 24 months. Two grafts and two contralateral ACLs had ruptured during sport and there was one case of atraumatic graft resorption. Using the assessment of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), 86% of the remaining patients were normal or nearly normal. The median Lysholm knee score was 95/100 and 84% of patients were participating in moderate to strenuous activity. All had grade-0 or grade-1 Lachman, pivot-shift and anterior-drawer tests. Measurement with the KT1000 arthrometer gave a side-to-side difference of < 3 mm of anterior tibial displacement in 90%. Sixty-six radiographs were IKDC grade A and one was grade B. Pain on kneeling was present in 31% and graft site pain in 44%.

At 24 months after operation all patients had excellent knee stability, a high rate of return to sport and minimal radiological evidence of degenerative change. Our series therefore represents a basis for comparison of results using other techniques and after more severe injuries.