Recognizing and Managing Complications in ACL Reconstruction

Complications in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery and How to Avoid Them

Complications following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can be detrimental to a patient's recovery and limit their ability to successfully return to sport. Arthrofibrosis, graft failure, and infection are a few examples of complications that can arise. Therefore, it is important for surgeons to recognize that each step during perioperative surgical decision making can impact patients' risk for such complications. The purpose of this paper is to discuss common complications following ACL reconstruction and how surgeons can avoid or reduce the risk of complications.

Management of Patella Fracture Nonunion and Large Bone Defect After Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft: A Case Report

CASE

A 32-year-old patient was diagnosed with a vertical patella fracture nonunion after a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In addition, a 1 × 2 × 1 cm patellar bone defect was noticed at the graft harvesting site. The patient was treated surgically with open reduction and internal fixation and iliac crest bone autograft which resulted in fracture union.

CONCLUSION

Many intraoperative and postoperative risk factors for iatrogenic patella fracture when harvesting BTB autograft were identified. Surgeons should be aware of technical skills needed to prevent this complication and should treat the fracture appropriately to avoid nonunion and optimize the outcome.

Measurements of tunnel placements after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction--A comparison between CT, radiographs and MRI

BACKGROUND

A non-anatomic placement of the femoral and tibial tunnels may affect outcome in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. Tunnel placements are validated with varying imaging modalities. We compared measurements of tunnel placements between radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a clinical setting, assessed the reliability and aimed to decide on a possible "gold standard".

METHODS

All patients who had undergone at least two of three modalities, radiographs, MRI and CT, after ACL reconstruction between January 2011 and June 2013 were included. Two radiologists measured tunnel placements according to a standardized protocol. Interobserver agreement was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), the intermodality differences with Bland-Atman plots. Radiation data for CT studies were collected.

RESULTS

Forty-six CTs, 45 radiographs and 30 MRIs were reviewed. Femoral inter-observer agreement for radiographs was ICC=0.64, for CT ICC=0.86 and for MRI ICC = 0.75. Tibial inter-observer agreement for radiographs was ICC=0.92, for CT-mip ICC=0.91, for CT and MRI ICC = 0.87. No intermodality differences between the femoral measurements were observed. In the tibia, there were differences between radiographs and CT (-3.9%), radiographs-MRI (-3.6%), CT-CT mip (3.2%) and CTmip-MRI (-3.1%). The effective radiation doses varied between 0.025 and 0.045 mSv, mean and median was 0.033 mSv.

CONCLUSION

There were differences in the tibial measurements between summation and single slice images. Only 3D-CT depicted the femoral tunnel in both directions. CT was consistently reliable in both femoral and tibial measurements. Effective radiation dose from CT was lower than previously reported. CT can safely be used in routine clinical practice to evaluate tunnel placements after ACL reconstruction.

Closure of patellar tendon defect in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft: systematic review of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

This study aimed to systematically review the highest level of evidence on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts with patellar tendon defect closure versus no closure after surgery.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of multiple medical databases using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Level I and Level II randomized controlled trials comparing patellar tendon defect closure to no closure during ACL reconstruction with BPTB autografts were included. Two independent reviewers analyzed all studies. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Study methodological quality was analyzed using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS) and Jadad scale.

RESULTS

Four studies with a combined 221 patients (154 male patients and 67 female patients) with an average age of 26.6 ± 2.4 years (range, 17 to 54 years) were included. All studies randomized patients before surgery into ACLR with BPTB autografts either with patellar tendon defect closure or without closure. There were no differences in clinical outcomes (Lysholm score, Tegner scale, International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] classification, modified Larsen score, and Lauridsen rating) between groups. There were no significant differences in knee pain between groups. All studies reported imaging findings of the patellar tendon defect, with 2 studies showing no difference in appearance between groups, one study showing excessive scar formation with defect repair, and one study showing improved restoration of normal tendon appearance with defect repair. The overall quality of the studies was poor, with all studies scoring less than 46 (average, 40.5 ± 4.7) on the MCMS and scoring 1 on the Jadad scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this systematic review of 4 randomized trials, there are no statistically significant or clinically relevant differences in outcomes between patients who have the patellar tendon defect closed and those who have it left open after ACLR with BPTB autografts. The methodology of the included studies limits the interpretation of the data, as evidenced by low MCMS and Jadad scores.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, systematic review of Level I and Level II studies.

The epidemiology of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of the rate of and risk factors for re-revision, reoperation, and readmission after revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is limited.

PURPOSE

To determine the rate of and risk factors for re-revision, reoperation, and readmission after revision ACLR.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive epidemiology study.

METHODS

All patients who underwent first revision ACLR in Ontario, Canada, from January 2004 to December 2010 were identified and followed until December 2012. Exclusions included age <16 years, previous osteotomy, or multiligament knee reconstruction. The main outcome was re-revision ACLR. Secondary outcomes included reoperation (irrigation and debridement [I&D], meniscectomy, manipulation under anesthesia, contralateral ACLR, and total knee arthroplasty) and readmission. Survival to re-revision was determined using the Kaplan-Meier approach. A Cox proportional hazards model or logistic regression were used to determine the influence of patient, surgical, and provider factors on outcomes. A post hoc analysis was performed to determine the influence of the aforementioned factors on postoperative infection risk.

RESULTS

Overall, 827 patients were included (median age, 30 years; 58.8% males). Single-stage revisions comprised 92.9% of cases, and a meniscal procedure (repair or debridement) was performed in 45.3% of cases. The re-revision rate at a mean follow-up of 4.8 ± 2.2 years was 4.4%, and the 5-year survival rate was 95.4%. The rates of I&D, meniscectomy, contralateral ACLR, and readmission were 0.8%, 3.1%, 3.4%, and 4.1%, respectively. Manipulation under anesthesia and total knee arthroplasty were rare. Young age significantly increased contralateral ACLR risk (risk decreased by 5.1% with each year of age >16 years; P = .02) but not re-revision ACLR risk. Low surgeon's annual volume of revision ACLR (<4 revisions/year: odds ratio, 1.2; P = .02) and male sex (odds ratio, 13.3; P = .01) significantly increased overall infection risk; male sex also influenced I&D risk.

CONCLUSION

Re-revision, reoperation, and readmission rates after revision ACLR were low, and the risk for I&D, infection, and contralateral ACLR were influenced by male sex, low surgeon volume, and young age, respectively.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This is the first study to determine morbidity rates and risk factors after revision ACLR, providing reference data from the general population.