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ABSTRACT: Double-bundle ACL reconstruction popularity is increasing with the aim to reproduce native ACL anatomy and improve ACL reconstruction outcome. However, to date, only a few randomized clinical studies have been published.
The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the clinical results of single- and double-bundle ACL reconstruction.
Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.
Seventy patients with a chronic unilateral ACL rupture who underwent arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction using a hamstring graft were randomized to receive a single- (SB) or double-bundle (DB) reconstruction. Both groups were comparable with regard to preoperative data. A double-incision surgical technique was adopted in both groups. The graft was fixed by looping the hamstring tendons around a bony (DB) or a metallic (SB) bridge on the tibial side and with interference screws reinforced with a staple on the femur. The same rehabilitation protocol was adopted. Outcome assessment was performed by a blinded, independent observer using the visual analog scale (VAS) score, the new International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation.
All the patients reached a minimum follow-up of 2 years. No differences between the 2 groups were observed in terms of KOOS and IKDC subjective score. A statistically significant difference in favor of the DB group was found with the VAS (P < .03). The objective IKDC final scores showed statistically significantly more "normal knees" in the DB group than in the SB group (P = .03). There was 1 stability failure in the DB group and 3 in the SB group. The KT-1000 arthrometer data showed a statistically significant decrease in the average anterior tibial translation in the DB group (1.2 mm DB vs 2.1 mm SB; P < .03). The incidence of a residual pivot-shift glide was 14% in DB and 26% in SB (P = .08).
In the 2-year minimum follow-up, DB ACL reconstructions showed better VAS, anterior knee laxity, and final objective IKDC scores than SB. However, longer follow-up and accurate instrumented in vivo rotational stability assessment are needed.
The American journal of sports medicine 09/2009; 38(1):25-34. · 3.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Proper femoral and tibial component rotational positioning in TKA is critical for outcomes. Several rotational landmarks are frequently used with different advantages and limitations. We wondered whether coronal axes in the tibia and femur based on the transepicondylar axis in the femur would correlate with anteroposterior deformity. We obtained computed tomography scans of 100 patients with arthritis before they underwent TKA. We measured the posterior condylar angle on the femoral side and the angle between Akagi's line and perpendicular to the projection of the femoral transepicondylar axis on the tibial side. On the femoral side, we found a linear relationship between the posterior condylar angle and coronal deformity with valgus knees having a larger angle than varus knees, ie, gradual external rotation increased with increased coronal deformity from varus to valgus. On the tibial side, the angle between Akagi's line and the perpendicular line to the femoral transepicondylar axis was on average approximately 0 degrees , but we observed substantial interindividual variability without any relationship to gender or deformity. A preoperative computed tomography scan was a useful, simple, and relatively inexpensive tool to identify relevant anatomy and to adjust rotational positioning. We do not, however, recommend routine use because on the femoral side, we found a relationship between rotational landmarks and coronal deformity.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 12/2008; 466(11):2751-5. · 2.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction replicates the 2 functional bundles of the native ligament, the posterolateral and the anteromedial, to control anteroposterior and rotational laxity.
Double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction laxity should be affected by the way grafts are tensioned.
Controlled laboratory study.
Fourteen intact cadaveric knees were instrumented in a 6 degree of freedom rig, and kinematics throughout flexion-extension were recorded with an electromagnetic system under a 90-N anterior force or a 5-N.m internal rotation torque. Anteromedial and posterolateral bundle bovine extensor tendon grafts were fixed to load cells on the tibia, and tension was adjusted to match the intact knee anteroposterior laxity with 3 different protocols: (1) anteromedial bundle first and then posterolateral bundle at 90 degrees and 20 degrees of flexion, respectively; (2) posterolateral bundle first and then anteromedial bundle at 20 degrees and 90 degrees of flexion, respectively; and (3) both bundles together at 20 degrees of flexion. Finally, a single-bundle graft positioned at 10 o'clock was tensioned at 20 degrees of flexion.
Lower graft tensions were required to match intact knee laxity in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Tension patterns with knee flexion were independent from the tensioning protocol. Protocols 1 and 2 overconstrained anteroposterior laxity, whereas protocol 3 matched intact knee anteroposterior laxity throughout the range of motion. The single-bundle reconstructions had excess anteroposterior laxity in flexion. Rotations were better restored with double-bundle protocols 2 and 3.
Knee laxity after double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is affected by the sequence in which the grafts are tensioned.
Double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction ensures better laxity restoration than does single bundle when both bundles are fixed together.
The American journal of sports medicine 01/2008; 35(12):2083-90. · 3.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Valgus deformity correction with total knee arthroplasty is challenging. We hypothesized selective release of the tight lateral structures (pie-crusting technique), and of the lateral retinaculum in case of patellar maltracking, would obtain and maintain correction of the frontal plane deformity, restore patellar tracking and function, and avoid the complications of the extensive releases, including lateral condyle avascularity and residual lateral instability. We followed 48 patients with 53 valgus knees who underwent TKA and were followed a minimum of 5 years (mean, 8 years; range, 5-12 years). Soft tissue balancing of the lateral structures was performed with the pie-crusting technique. We employed either a fixed posterior stabilized or a mobile implant. A lateral release was performed in 67% of the cases. We observed one postoperative complication, a transient postoperative peroneal nerve palsy that spontaneously completely recovered. In 51 of the 53 knees (96%) we achieved alignment within 5 degrees from neutral. One patient had varus instability in extension. No component was revised. The pie-crusting technique reliably corrects moderate to severe fixed valgus deformities with a low complication rate and reasonable mid-term results. The multiple punctures allow gradual stretching of the lateral soft tissues and preservation of the popliteus tendon reducing the risk of posterolateral instability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 12/2007; 464:73-7. · 2.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is intended to replicate the anatomy and the function of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the native ACL to improve patients' satisfaction and knee stability. We prospectively assigned 75 consecutive patients with an isolated ACL lesion to one of three sequential groups of 25 patients each. Group I received a single-bundle, single-incision transtibial ACL reconstruction. Groups II and III received a double-bundle reconstruction with a single-incision transtibial technique or a double-bundle, twoincision outside-in technique, respectively. We obtained subjective International Knee Documentation Committee and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score evaluations and objective International Knee Documentation Committee scores and KT-1000 measurements preoperatively and at followup. All patients reached a minimum followup of 2 years. KT side-to-side difference in Groups I, II, and III were 2.4, 1.6 and 1.4 mm, respectively. Group III had fewer patients with a positive pivot shift than Group I. The double-bundle double-incision outside-in ACL reconstruction resulted in improved anteroposterior stability and less residual pivot shift than single-incision single-bundle technique.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 02/2007; 454:108-13. · 2.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine whether a double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a transtibial approach could position the tibial and femoral tunnels accurately in the native bundle attachments.
In 21 fresh-frozen knees the tibial and femoral attachments of the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles were outlined. The AM tibial tunnel guidewire was drilled with the 65 degree Howell tibial guide (Arthrotek, Warsaw, IN) located against the femur in the extended knee. The PL tibial wire was drilled through a prototype attachment to the Howell guide. Of the knees, 14 were available for the femoral part of the study. The AM femoral guidewire used an aimer offset 3 mm from the over-the-top position. The PL wire was drilled transtibially at 70 degrees of flexion, with external rotation and posterior drawer loads being applied. The plateaus and condyles were photographed and the wire positions measured.
With regard to the tibia, 17 of 21 AM wires were in the AM bundle attachment (at 61% and 36% of the natural ACL posteroanterior and mediolateral length, respectively) and 19 of 21 PL wires were in the PL bundle attachment (at 28% and 36% of the posteroanterior and mediolateral length, respectively). With regard to the femur, 12 of 14 AM wires and 9 of 14 PL wires were in the correct native bundle attachment. The AM wire was 3% more shallow than the center of the AM attachment (P = .03) and 6% more superior (P < .001), where 100% was the diameter of the posterior lateral condyle. The PL wire was 4% more shallow than the center of the PL attachment (P = .026) and 6% more superior (P < .001).
Anatomic and reproducible tibial guidewire positioning was achieved. Femoral wires were reproducibly positioned, but both were superior to and more shallow than the natural ACL bundle attachments, so further development or a different approach is appropriate.
The double-bundle reconstruction aims to restore anterior drawer and rotational stability. This technique ensures anatomic tibial positioning. Further improvements are needed with regard to the femur.
Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery 01/2007; 23(1):7-13. · 3.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is one of the most popular orthopaedic procedures. Correct tunnel positioning is a prerequisite to success. Current surgical techniques are unable to duplicate the complex anatomy and function of the native ACL. Surgery mainly aims at restoring anteroposterior laxity. The ACL is not isometric and only a few fibers are nearly isometric over the full range of motion. However, a nearly isometric behaviour of the ACL graft is desirable. Isometry is mainly influenced by femoral attachment; thus the femoral tunnel position has a greater effect than the tibial on graft length changes. The purpose of this article is to describe the anatomy of the femoral ACL insertion and to discuss the surgical techniques used to replicate it.
Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy 04/2006; 14(3):250-6. · 2.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To study in cadaver knees the position of the tibial tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using the 65 degrees Howell guide (Arthrotek, Ontario, CA).
Controlled laboratory study in vitro.
Twenty-one fresh-frozen cadaver knees were used. The ACL was resected and its tibial attachment was demarcated. To drill the guidewire, we used the Howell 65 degrees tibial guide, which references off of the intercondylar roof in extension to avoid impingement. The intra-articular position of the wire was digitized with a digital camera and referred to a transverse axis passing through the over-the-back position and a sagittal axis passing through the lateral aspect of the medial spine. The percentage position of the wire within the ACL attachment was also calculated, taking the posterior and medial limits as the 0% positions.
All the wires were within the ACL attachment: 17 were in the ACL posterolateral bundle attachment and the other 4 in the anteromedial. The average distance of the wire from the transverse and sagittal axes was 12 mm (SD, 3 mm) anterior and 1 mm (SD, 1 mm) lateral, respectively. The wire was positioned at 38% (SD, 16%) of the length of the ACL attachment and at 40% (SD, 17%) of the width. Eighty percent of the wires were positioned at between 35% and 48% of the attachment length.
The 65 degrees Howell guide, which positions the tibial tunnel in extension to avoid roof impingement, ensures anatomic positioning of the graft on the tibial side and reproducibility can be expected.
This study proves that a commonly used drill guide succeeds in placing the ACL graft in the tibial anatomic attachment.
Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery 02/2006; 22(1):70-5. · 3.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Forty-three patients who had undergone an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a doubled semitendinosus and gracilis graft were prospectively reviewed at 5-year follow-up. All had suffered subacute or chronic tears of the ligament. At surgery, the femoral tunnel was drilled first through the antero-medial portal. The correct position of the femoral and tibial guide wire was checked fluoroscopically. A cortical fixation to the bone was achieved in the femur with a Mitek anchor, directly passing the two tendons in the slot of the anchor, and in the tibia with an RCI screw, supplemented with a spiked washer and bicortical screw. Rehabilitation was aggressive, controlled and without braces. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, KT-1000 arthrometer, and Cybex dynamometer were employed for clinical evaluation. A radiographic study was also performed. At the 5-year follow-up all the patients had recovered full range of motion and 2% of them complained of pain during light sports activities. Four patients (9.5%) reported giving-way symptoms. The KT-1000 side-to-side difference was on average 2.1 mm at 30 lb, and 68% of the knees were within 2 mm. The final IKDC score showed 90% satisfactory results. There was no difference between the 2-year and 5-year evaluations in terms of stability. Extensor and flexor muscle strength recovery was almost complete (maximum deficit 5%). Radiographic study showed a tunnel widening in 32% of the femurs and 40% of the tibias. A correlation was found between the incidence of tibial tunnel widening and the distance of the RCI screw from the joint (the closer the screw to the joint, the lower the incidence of widening). In conclusion, we can state that, using a four-strand hamstring graft and a cortical fixation at both ends, we were able to achieve satisfactory 5-year results in 90% of the patients.
Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy 04/2005; 13(2):81-91. · 2.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Minimal invasive UKA is an attractive option for the knee surgeon. Low complication rates, minor blood losses, faster and
full functional recovery, and reduction of hospital stay and costs are clear advantages. On the other hand, miniinvasive UKA
is a demanding procedure that requires a long learning curve. Visualization is poor; proper component positioning and accurate
cement removal are critical. New prosthetic designs and instruments are being developed to optimize and standardize the procedure
using shorter incisions. Further development should involve new navigation systems to help the surgeon in implant positioning
and in aligning the limb.
12/2003: pages 51-86;
