Posterior cruciate ligament: Anatomy, femoral insertion and relationships with the anterior menisco-femoral ligament in 23 cadaver knees

Trans-medial gastrocnemius approach (Badet approach) for displaced posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion

Avulsions of the retrospinal surface are rare injuries resulting from high-energy trauma. Displacement of this fracture frequently indicates a surgical treatment to restore posterior cruciate ligament function. Several approaches have been proposed in the literature, either open or arthroscopic, which can be tricky due to the fracture's proximity to the popliteal vascular-nervous elements. Badet's open approach is a medial trans-gastrocnemius approach, providing a direct access to the retro-spinal surface for osteosynthesis. In this technique, an L-shaped incision is made along precise skin lines, followed by discision of the muscle fibers. The capsule is then approached, allowing a view of the retro-spinal surface protected from the popliteal vasculo-nervous elements by the muscular lateral lip of the gastrocnemius. A reduction followed by screw osteosynthesis is usually performed, allowing early mobilization of the patient. In this technical note, we describe the Badet approach supporting by video and case series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The promotive effect of grafts with the double-stranded peroneus longus tendon and with the four-stranded hamstring tendon on reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament injury

INTRODUCTION

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury hampers the rotational stability and stability front to back of the knee joint, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. Some studies have reported that the peroneus longus tendon (PLT) has sufficient length and strength.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that the PLT can be used as a novel appropriate material for PCL reconstruction therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Herein, we systematically analysed the clinical effect of the double-stranded PLT and the four-stranded hamstring tendon in the reconstruction of the PCL and compared the effectiveness and safety of these two surgical approaches in the reconstruction of PCL injury. A total of 48 patients with complete rupture of the PCL were divided into Group A (reconstructed with the double-stranded PLT, 25 cases) and Group B (reconstructed with the four-stranded hamstring tendon, 23 cases).

RESULTS

The patients were followed up for more than 1 year. The intraoperative time for tendon extraction was significantly shorter in Group A than Group B. Twenty-four months after operation, patients in the two groups showed the alleviated tibial posterior displacement and the increased IKDC score, Lysholm score and Tegner score. Nevertheless, these scores showed no significant differences between the two groups. Additionally, compared with the therapy using the four-stranded hamstring tendon, therapy using the double-stranded PLT is simpler and safer.

DISCUSSION

Both surgical methods are effective in the treatment of PCL injury. The PLT could be a good choice for PCL injury reconstruction material, especially when the four-stranded hamstring tendon is accidentally damaged or ineffective. Our study may provide guidance for the clinical treatment of PCL injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, retrospective study.