Hamstrings substitution via anteromedial portal with optional anterolateral ligament reconstruction is the preferred surgical technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a survey among ESSKA members

Preferences in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A survey among orthopedic surgeons in China

The purpose of this study was to reveal the current trends and preferences of Chinese orthopedic surgeons regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction through a nationwide web-based survey conducted in China. The survey questionnaire was distributed via WeChat to the chairmen of provincial orthopedic and sports medicine organizing committees in China, who then shared it in their respective WeChat workgroups. The questionnaire consisted of 52 multiple-choice questions covering 8 sections. Data collection was implemented by Questionnaire Star. A total of 812 valid questionnaires were returned: 94.21% of the respondents preferred single-bundle reconstruction of ACL, while 61.70% preferred autogenous semitendinosus plus gracilis reconstruction; 76.35% of the respondents preferred establishing the femoral tunnel first, while 47.29% preferred establishing the femoral tunnel through a medial auxiliary approach; and 85.10% of the respondents recommended patients to undergo surgery within 3 months after ligament injury. Besides, the vast majority of respondents chose to retain the ligamentous remnant bundle (92.98%) and recommended routine use of knee braces postoperatively (94.09%). It is recommended to perform arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with the remnant preserving technique using a hamstring autograft within 3 months of ACL rupture, with support of postoperative functional braces.

Surgeon's experience, sports participation and a concomitant MCL injury increase the use of patellar and quadriceps tendon grafts in primary ACL reconstruction: a nationwide registry study of 39,964 surgeries

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of surgeon-related factors and clinic routines on autograft choice in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

METHODS

Data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry (SNKLR), 2008-2019, were used to study autograft choice (hamstring; HT, patellar; PT, or quadriceps tendon; QT) in primary ACLR. Patient/injury characteristics (sex, age at surgery, activity at time of injury and associated injuries) and surgeon-/clinic-related factors (operating volume, caseload and graft type use) were analyzed. Surgeon/clinic volume was divided into tertiles (low-, mid- and high-volume categories). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess variables influencing autograft choice in 2015-2019, presented as the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

39,964 primary ACLRs performed by 299 knee surgeons in 91 clinics were included. Most patients received HT (93.7%), followed by PT (4.2%) and QT (2.1%) grafts. Patients were mostly operated on by high-volume (> 28 ACLRs/year) surgeons (68.1%), surgeons with a caseload of ≥ 50 ACLRs (85.1%) and surgeons with the ability to use ≥ two autograft types (85.9%) (all p < 0.001). Most patients underwent ACLR at high-volume (> 55 ACLRs/year) clinics (72.2%) and at clinics capable of using ≥ two autograft types (93.1%) (both p < 0.001). Significantly increased odds of receiving PT/QT autografts were found for ACLR by surgeons with a caseload of ≥ 50 ACLRs (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.79), but also for injury during handball (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02-1.67), various other pivoting sports (basketball, hockey, rugby and American football) (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24-2.03) and a concomitant medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury (OR 4.93, 95% CI 4.18-5.80). In contrast, female sex (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.97), injury during floorball (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.91) and ACLR by mid-volume relative to high-volume surgeons (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.53-0.73) had significantly reduced odds of receiving PT/QT autografts.

CONCLUSION

An HT autograft was used in the vast majority of cases, but PT/QT autografts were used more frequently by experienced surgeons. Prior research has demonstrated significant differences in autograft characteristics. For this reason, patients might benefit if surgery is performed by more experienced surgeons.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Graft isometry during anatomical ACL reconstruction has little effect on surgical outcomes

PURPOSE

To investigate the surgical outcomes of anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction according to the graft isometry measured during surgery.

METHODS

Electrical medical records of patients who underwent an arthroscopic ACL reconstruction through the transportal technique using hamstring tendon autograft between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups based on the graft length change throughout the knee range of motion measured just before graft fixation (Group 1, graft length change ≤ 2 mm; Group 2, graft length change > 2 mm). Comparative analyses, including a non-inferiority trial, were performed regarding the clinical scores, knee laxity, and radiographic parameters between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The total change in the length of ACL graft throughout the knee range of motion was 1.4 ± 0.4 mm in Group 1 (range, 0.2-2.0 mm), and 3.0 ± 0.7 mm in Group 2 (range, 2.2-5.0 mm). Group 1 showed a relatively high (proximal) femoral tunnel and shallow (anterior) tibial tunnel compared to Group 2 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively), but there were no apparent differences in the macroscopic view. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes between groups at 2 years after surgery, which satisfied the non-inferiority criterion of Group 1 in terms of clinical scores and knee laxity compared to Group 2.

CONCLUSION

The surgical outcomes of anatomical ACL reconstruction in patients with non-isometric ACL graft were not inferior in terms of clinical scores and knee laxity, compared to those with nearly-isometric ACL graft. The graft tunnel placement in the isometric position during anatomical ACL reconstruction, which is technically challenging in the clinical setting, is not a crucial factor in terms of clinical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Graft Combined With Modified Lemaire Technique Versus Hamstring Graft Combined With Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction: A Clinical Comparative Matched Study With a Mean Follow-up of 5 Years From The SANTI Study Group

BACKGROUND

Additional lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) has recently been correlated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced failure rates in revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). However, no data are available on clinical outcomes and reoperation after revision ACLR using different LET procedures.

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical outcomes of ACL + anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft (HT-ALL) and a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft + modified Lemaire tenodesis procedure (BPTB-Lemaire) in the setting of revision ACLR and to determine whether ALL reconstruction is associated with an increased rate of adverse outcomes when compared with a modified Lemaire tenodesis procedure.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Descriptive data and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected from patients who underwent revision ACLR with LET between 2009 and 2018 with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients with an HT autograft combined with ALL reconstruction (HT-ALL group) were matched in a 1:1 propensity ratio to patients with a BPTB autograft combined with a modified Lemaire LET procedure (BPTB-Lemaire group). The evaluated parameters included complications and reoperations; knee laxity tests; return to sports; and various scores, including the Lysholm knee score, Tegner activity scale, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury scale, Marx activity rating scale, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.

RESULTS

In total, 36 matched pairs were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up durations for the BPTB-Lemaire and HT-ALL groups were 56 ± 35 and 57 ± 23 months, respectively (P = .91). No significant differences were found in graft rupture rate (HT-ALL, 0%; BPTB-Lemaire, 11.1%; P = .13) or reoperations (HT-ALL, 8.3%; BPTB-Lemaire, 22.2%; P = .23). No specific complications with regard to LET were noted in either group. Additionally, there were no significant differences in knee laxity parameters, return to sports, or clinical scores between the groups at the final follow-up, except for the Tegner activity scale score (HT-ALL, 6.4; BPTB-Lemaire, 7.3; P = .03). HT-ALL was associated with a shorter surgical time (41.4 vs 59.8 minutes; P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

HT-ALL was at least equivalent, in terms of clinical outcomes, to the more commonly performed procedure, BPTB-Lemaire. Performing ALL reconstruction in the setting of revision ACLR is therefore safe and effective.

Current and future of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques

In recent years, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has generally yielded favorable outcomes. However, ACL reconstruction has not provided satisfactory results in terms of the rate of returning to sports and prevention of osteoarthritis (OA) progression. In this paper, we outline current techniques for ACL reconstruction such as graft materials, double-bundle or single-bundle reconstruction, femoral tunnel drilling, all-inside technique, graft fixation, preservation of remnant, anterolateral ligament reconstruction, ACL repair, revision surgery, treatment for ACL injury with OA and problems, and discuss expected future trends. To enable many more orthopedic surgeons to achieve excellent ACL reconstruction outcomes with less invasive surgery, further studies aimed at improving surgical techniques are warranted. Further development of biological augmentation and robotic surgery technologies for ACL reconstruction is also required.

Large variation in management of talar osteochondral lesions among foot and ankle surgeons: results from an international survey

PURPOSE

Surgeons management of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) may be different to the published guidelines because not all treatment recommendations are feasible in every country. This study aimed to assess how OLT are managed worldwide by foot and ankle surgeons.

METHODS

A web-based survey was distributed to the members of 21 local and international scientific societies focused on foot and ankle or sports medicine surgery. Answers with a prevalence greater than 75% of respondents were considered a "main tendency", whereas where prevalence exceeded 50% of respondents they were considered a "tendency".

RESULTS

A total of 1804 surgeons from 79 different countries returned the survey. The responses to 19 of 28 questions (68%) regarding management and treatment of OLT achieved a main tendency (> 75%) or a tendency (> 50%). Symptoms reported to be most suspicious for OLT were pain on weight-bearing (WB) and after activity (83%), deep localization of the pain (62%), and any history of trauma (55%). 89% of surgeons routinely obtain an MRI, 72% routinely get WB radiographs, and 50% perform a CT scan. When treated surgically, OLTs are managed in isolation by only 7% of surgeons, and combined with ligament repair or reconstruction by 79%; 67% report simultaneous excision of soft-tissue or bony impingements (64%). For lesions less than 10-15 mm in diameter, bone marrow stimulation (BMS) represents the first choice of treatment for 78% of surgeons (main tendency). No other treatment was recorded as a tendency. For lesions greater than 15 mm in diameter no tendencies were recorded. The BMS represented the most preferred treatment being the first choice of treatment for 41% of surgeons. OLT depth had little influence on treatment choice: 71% of surgeons treating small lesions and 69% treating large lesions would choose the same treatment regardless of whether the lesion had a depth lesser or greater than 5 mm.

CONCLUSION

The management of OLT by foot and ankle surgeons from around the world remains extremely varied. The main clinical relevance of this study is that it provides updated information with regard to the management of OLT internationally, which could be used by surgeons worldwide in their decision-making and to inform the patient about available surgical options.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.