The Effect of Augmentation with The Synthetic Polyester Ligament in The Tear of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament: A Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is the present the short rerm result of arthroscopic reconstruction for PCL injury. Since January l990, authors have implanted the synthetic polyester ligament (ABC ligament, Surgicraft, U.K) into the substance of ruptured PCL proper under arthroscopic control. The follow up period ranged from 24 months to 61 months (average,35months). The main cause of injuries were traffic accidents in 38. Thirtyfive of patient were men and three were women, range in age from 18 to 70 years (average, 37 years). 18 were acute injury and operated at average 12 days after injury and 20 knee were chronic injury and operated at average 9 months after injury. There were 25 case that had combined ligament injuries (l2 ACL injury, ]0 MCL injury, 8 LCL injury elc). In 15 knees, the tear was in the mid substance area and in 13 it was near femoral attach site and in lO it was near tibial attach site. Postoperative result were evaluated by roentgenographic evaluation of posterior sagging, KT-20 (0 arthrometer and Lysholm knee score. Difference were improved from 12.5 mm (mean pre.op) to 3.8m (mean post.op) on posterior drawer test. Both knee showedminimal difference on KT-20N) study (2.l mm on 201b) at the time of follow up. The average Lysholm knee score were 84.7. By Clancy criteria, the result were exceflent 9 case (24%), good in 20 case (53%), fair in 7 case (18'Po) and failui e in 2 case (5%). On based of this study, arthroscopic augmentation with ABC ligament in PCL injury is very effective treatment but more longer follow-up and more case must he needed to accept this method.