Objective To evaluate the tendon regeneration after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon autografts by MRI. Methods Between September 2007 and September 2009, 52 patients undergoing ACL reconstructions with semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon autografts were enrolled. There were 29 males and 23 females with an average age of 31.6 years (range, 19-42 years). The left knees were involved in 34 cases and the right knees in 18 cases. The injury was caused by traffic accident in 11 cases, by sports in 38 cases, by heavy pound injury in 2 cases, and by other in 1 case. The time between injury and operation was 6 days to 31 months (median, 11.4 months). Joint pain occurred in 19 cases, joint instability in 28 cases, and joint swelling in 5 cases. The physical examination on admission showed thigh amyotrophy in 7 cases (thigh circumference side-to-side difference gt; 1 cm) and limitation of joint motion in 2 cases. The results of floating patella test, Lachman test, pivot shift test, and anterior drawer test were positive in 5, 51, 49, and 52 cases, respectively. The range of motion of knee was (127.77 ± 5.73)°, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 49.50 ± 4.08, and Lysholm score was 52.40 ± 3.45. Of the patients, 23 were accompanied with medial meniscus tear, 6 with lateral meniscus tear, 2 with plica synovialis, and 1 with loose body. Results All incisions healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14.9 months). At 12 months postoperatively, the results of Lachman test and pivot shift test were positive in 1 case, respectively; the results of anterior drawer test were negative in 52 cases. The range of motion of knee was (131.91 ± 1.81)°, Lysholm score was 94.98 ± 2.77, IKDC score was 93.65 ± 2.42; and there were significant differences when compared with the preoperative ones (P lt; 0.05). At 12 months postoperatively, at 90° resisted flexion of the knee, a very distinct fibrous band could be identified on the posteromedial aspect of the knee in 39 cases. MRI showed that both semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon regeneration in 10 cases, only semitendinosus tendon regeneration in 29 cases, only gracilis tendon regeneration in 2 cases, and no tendon regeneration in 11 cases. The regeneration rate of the semitendinosus tendon was 75.0% (39/52); the regeneration rate of the gracilis tendon was 23.1% (12/52); and the regeneration rate of the semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon was 78.8% (41/52). Conclusion MRI results suggest that some of the semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon could regenerate after harvested for ACL reconstruction.
Objective To study the clinical effect of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction with different grafts under arthroscope. Methods A retrospective analysis was done on 68 cases of ACL injury.ACL reconstruction with bonepatellar tendonbone autograft and interface screw fixation were performed in 26 cases(group A) and quadruple semitendinosus tendon autograft and endobutton plate fixationin in 38 cases (group B). ACL reconstruction with bonepatellar tendonbone allograft cryopreserved and interface screw fixation were performed in 4 cases (group C). Therewere 16 males and 10 females with an average age of 26.4 years (16-45 years) in group A, 24 males and 14 females with an average age of 24.6 years (13-48 years) in group B, and 3 males and 1 female (55-65 years) in group C. The left knee involved in 14 cases, 27 cases and 3 cases, and the right knee involved in 12 cases, 11 cases and 1 case in groups A, B and C, respectively. The disease courses were 1 week to 15 months (group A), 1 week to 16 months (group B) and 2 weeksto 28 months (group C).The intermediate myodynamic recovery, IKDC score and Lysholm score were compared among 3 groups. Results All patients were followed 12-36 months (17.5 months in group A, 18.5 months in group B and 16.5 months in group C). No intra articular infection, phlebothrombosis of leg, vascular injury and nerve injury occurred. Lysholm scores was increased from preoperative 65.3±4.8 to postoperative 95.1±4.3 in group A, from 68.4±5.6 to 93.0±5.9 in group B and from 60.3±6.7 to 92.2±4.3(excellent in 3 cases and good in 1 case) in group C; the excellent and good rates were 88.5% (excellent in 18 cases, good in 5 cases and fair in 3 cases) in group A, 86.8% (excellent in 28 cases, good in 5 cases and fair in 5 cases) in group B, IKDC scores were 93.7±3.8 (group A), 95.7±4.7 (group B) and 94.8±3.6(group C); the knee joint functions were normal in 19 cases(73.1%), in 30 cases (78.9%) and in 3 cases, were fair in 5 cases (19.2%), in 5 cases (13.2%) and in 1 cases in groups A, B and C respectively. Conclusion The transplantation of bonepatellar tendonbone autograft , quadruple semitendinosustendon autograft and bonepatellar tendonbone allograft all can reconstruct and strengthen the stability of knee joint. Bonepatellar tendonbone allograft is better selection for the ACL injury in elder and quadruple semitendinosus tendon autograft is suitable to adolescent patients with disrupted ACL.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness between modified Brostrom method repair and anatomical reconstruction anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) with single fibular tunnel for chronic lateral ankle instability. MethodsTwenty ankle specimens of fresh cadaver were dissected to provide the anatomic data of ATFL and CFL and to observe the neurovascular distribution. Between January 2008 and December 2011, 48 patients (48 ankles) with chronic lateral ankle instability were randomly divided to groups A and B (n=24). The direct repair of ATFL and CFL by modified Brostrom method was performed in group A, and anatomic doublebundle reconstruction of ATFL and CFL with free semitendinosus tendon autograft in group B. There was no significant difference in sex, age, body mass index, injury side, the causes of injury, interval of injury and operation, talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, ankle plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, valgus, varus, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and visual analogue score (VAS) between 2 groups (P>0.05). The image parameters and range of motion were compared between 2 groups after operation; AOFAS and VAS scores were used to evaluate the effectiveness. ResultsAll the incisions healed by first intention in 2 groups; no complication of nerve injury, infection, or skin necrosis was observed. All the patients were followed up 2-5 years (mean, 3.4 years); no subtalar stiffness or recurrent instability occurred during follow-up. The talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, AOFAS score, and VAS score were significantly improved at 2 years after operation when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in range of motion of ankle plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and ankle valgus, and VAS score between 2 groups (P>0.05), but group B was significantly better than group A in the range of motion of ankle varus, talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, and AOFAS score (P<0.05). In the each item of AOFAS score, there was no significant difference in pain, abnormal gait, support and autonomic function, ankle flexion and extension, hind foot motion, and alignment between 2 groups (P>0.05), but group B was significantly better than group A in walking, maximum walking distance, and ankle stability (P<0.05). ConclusionThe described technique, which involves anatomic double-bundle reconstruction of the ATFL and CFL with single fibular tunnel and modified incision, is a viable option for treating lateral ankle instability, especially for young patients who need high stability and revision.