Arthroscopic absorbable interference screw fixation and four-stranded hamstring tendons autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore surgical techniques and clinical effects of arthroscopic absorbable interference screw fixation and four-stranded hamstring tendon autograft for the reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Methods Forty-two patients with rupture of the ACL were operated on by arthroscopic four-stranded hamstring tendons autograft reconstruction using SR-PLLA absorbable screw fixation. Results Follow-up for 3～22 months (mean, 11 4 months) in all 42 patients showed normal motion range of knee joint. Postoperative Lachman test revealed ≤1+ in 37 patients, 2+ in 4 patients and 3+ in 1 patient. All patients showed an absent pivot shift. Postoperative Lysholm score was 89 7?9 6 points, which had increased significantly as compared with the preoperative score (49 4?9 1 points; t =2 12, P =0 038). Postoperative Tegner activity grading scale was 5 3?1 1 points, which was significantly higher than the preoperative one (2 3?0 7 points; t =4 13, P =0 008). MRI examination at first postoperative year showed that absorbable interference screws were partly absorbed in 29 patients,and reconstructed ligaments were in good position and normal in shape in 27 patients.The tendon grafts were anchored on the femur a little too more to the front side in 2 patients, and on the tibia a little too more to the front side in 3 patients, with slight impingement phenomena. Conclusions In ACL reconstruction, four-stranded hamstring tendon is an ideal graft material and absorbable interference screw is optimal for internal fixation.