Tachibana Y, Tanaka Y, Kinugasa K, Mae T, Horibe S. Tunnel Enlargement Correlates With Postoperative Posterior Laxity After Double-Bundle Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
Orthop J Sports Med 2021;
9:2325967120977834. [PMID:
33614798 PMCID:
PMC7869171 DOI:
10.1177/2325967120977834]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
There exists little information in the relevant literature regarding tunnel
enlargement after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction
(PCLR).
Purpose:
To sequentially evaluate tunnel enlargement and radiographic posterior laxity
through double-bundle PCLR using autologous hamstring tendon grafts.
Study Design:
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods:
We prospectively analyzed 13 patients who underwent double-bundle PCLR for an
isolated PCL injury. Three-dimensional computed tomography images were
obtained at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively, and the tunnel
enlargement was calculated by sequentially comparing the cross-sectional
areas of the bone tunnels. We also sequentially measured radiographic
posterior laxity. The correlation between the tunnel enlargement ratio and
the postoperative increase in posterior laxity was evaluated.
Results:
The cross-sectional area at the aperture in each tunnel significantly
increased from 3 weeks to 6 months (P < .003), but it
did not continue doing so thereafter. The 6-month tunnel enlargement ratios
of the femoral anterolateral tunnel, the femoral posteromedial tunnel, the
tibial anterolateral tunnel, and the tibial posteromedial tunnel were 31.6%
± 23.5%, 90.3% ± 54.7%, 30.5% ± 26.8%, and 49.6% ± 37.0%, respectively,
while the corresponding ratios at 1 year were 28.1% ± 19.8%, 83.1% ± 56.9%,
26.8% ± 32.8%, and 47.6% ± 39.0%, respectively. The posterior laxity was 9.0
± 4.0 mm, −1.5 ± 2.3 mm, 3.4 ± 2.0 mm, and 3.9 ± 1.9 mm, preoperatively,
immediately after surgery, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively,
respectively. From the immediate postoperative period, the posterior laxity
significantly increased at 6 months postoperatively (P <
.001), but it did not thereafter. The postoperative increase in posterior
laxity had a significant positive correlation with the anterolateral tunnel
enlargement ratio in both femoral and tibial tunnels at 6 months (ρ =
0.571-0.699; P = .011-.041) and 1 year (ρ = 0.582-0.615;
P = .033-.037).
Conclusion:
Tunnel enlargement after PCLR mainly occurred within 6 months, with no
progression thereafter. The anterolateral tunnel enlargement positively
correlated with postoperative increase in posterior laxity.
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