Return to play after three ipsilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions in an elite soccer player: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the reasonable success of ACL reconstruction, some athletes are not able to regain the level of play they once had. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here, we report the case of a 32-year-old male professional soccer player who sustained an ACL injury in his right knee. The patient had a history of two prior ipsilateral ACL injuries, which was reconstructed with ipsilateral hamstring autograft (first surgery) and ipsilateral patellar tendon autograft (revision surgery). Imaging examination revealed a small narrowing of the medial femoro-tibial compartment, a complete ACL rupture, partial medial meniscectomy, small cartilage lesions in the medial condyle, a 7° varus knee, an enlarged tibial tunnel, and a femoral tunnel positioned high above the intercondylar roof. A one-step re-revision surgery using a fresh-frozen, cadaveric, non-irradiated Achilles tendon allograft was planned. After surgery, physiotherapy was conducted once per day during 4 months. The patient started running at the 6th month, and returned to full training 8 months after surgery. The player returned to full competitive play 9 months after surgery and has been competing for the last 36 months at the highest level of play without any limitation, inflammation, pain, or perception of instability. CONCLUSION: In professional sports, when re-revision ACL reconstruction is indicated and the patient expects to return to competition, surgery should not be delayed. In these cases, the usefulness of Achilles tendon allograft should be taken into consideration for re-revision ACL reconstruction.

Biomechanical Evidence on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Objective Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is recommended in athletes with high physical demands. Several techniques are used in reconstruction; however, the most relevant question still is the best biomechanical positioning for the graft. The present study aimed to analyze the biomechanical effect of the position of bone tunnels on load distribution and joint kinetics, as well as the medium-term functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction. Methods A biomechanical study using a finite element model of the original knee (without anterior cruciate ligament rupture) and reconstruction of the ACL (neoACL) was performed in four combinations of bone tunnel positions (central femoral-central tibial, anterior femoral-central tibial, posterosuperior femoral-anterior tibial, and central femoral-anterior tibial) using the same type of graft. Each neo-ACL model was compared with the original knee model regarding cartilaginous contact pressure, femoral and meniscal rotation and translation, and ligamentous deformation. Results No neo-ACL model was able to fully replicate the original knee model. When the femoral tunnel was posteriorly positioned, cartilage pressures were 25% lower, and the mobility of the meniscus was 12 to 30% higher compared with the original knee model. When the femoral tunnel was in the anterior position, internal rotation was 50% lower than in the original knee model. Conclusion Results show that the femoral tunnel farther from the central position appears to be more suitable for a distinct behavior regarding the intact joint. The most anterior position increases rotational instability.

Biomechanical Evidence on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Análise biomecânica da reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior

Abstract Objective Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is recommended in athletes with high physical demands. Several techniques are used in reconstruction; however, themost relevant question still is the best biomechanical positioning for the graft. The present study aimed to analyze the biomechanical effect of the position of bone tunnels on load distribution and joint kinetics, as well as the medium-term functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction. Methods A biomechanical study using a finite element model of the original knee (without anterior cruciate ligament rupture) and reconstruction of the ACL (neoACL) was performed in four combinations of bone tunnel positions (central femoral-central tibial, anterior femoral-central tibial, posterosuperior femoral-anterior tibial, and central femoral-anterior tibial) using the same type of graft. Each neo-ACL model was compared with the original knee model regarding cartilaginous contact pressure, femoral and meniscal rotation and translation, and ligamentous deformation. Results No neo-ACL model was able to fully replicate the original knee model. When the femoral tunnel was posteriorly positioned, cartilage pressures were 25% lower, and the mobility of the meniscus was 12 to 30% higher compared with the original knee model. When the femoral tunnel was in the anterior position, internal rotation was 50% lower than in the original knee model. Conclusion Results show that the femoral tunnel farther from the central position appears to be more suitable for a distinct behavior regarding the intact joint. The most anterior position increases rotational instability.

Resumo Objetivo A reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior é aconselhável sobretudo em atletas de alta demanda física. Diversas técnicas são usadas na reconstrução,mas a grande questão é qual o melhor posicionamento para o enxerto. Analisar o efeito biomecânico da posição dos túneis ósseos na repartição de carga e cinemática da articulação, bemcomo os resultados funcionais em médio prazo, após reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior. Métodos Fez-se um estudo de simulação biomecânica computacional com modelos de elementos finitos do joelho original e com reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior (Neo-LCA) em quatro combinações de posição dos túneis ósseos (femoral central-tibial central, femoral anterior-tibial central, femoral posterossuperior-tibial anterior e femoral central-tibial anterior) com o mesmo tipo de enxerto. Para cada modelo, foram comparadas a pressão de contato na cartilagem, a rotação e translação do fêmur e dos meniscos e a deformação nos ligamentos. Resultados Nenhum modelo de Neo-LCA foi capaz de reproduzir, na íntegra, o modelo do joelho original. Quando o túnel femoral era colocado em posição mais posterior, observaram-se pressões na cartilagem 25% mais baixas e translação dos meniscos superiores entre 12% e 30% relativamente aomodelo intacto. Quando o túnel femoral estava em posição mais anterior, observou-se uma rotação interna do fêmur 50% inferior ao modelo intacto. Conclusão Os resultados evidenciam que uma localização do túnel femoral mais distante da posição central parece ser mais preponderante para um comportamento mais díspar relativamente à articulação intacta. Na posição mais anterior existe um aumento da instabilidade rotatória.

Inside-out Tibial Tunnel Drilling Technique for All-inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

All-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction passed through a series of modifications over the past 2 decades, maintaining 2 common factors: half tunnels in both the femur and tibia and introduction of the graft into the knee through an arthroscopic portal. One of the disadvantages noted with this technique is the excessive cost of the instrumentation needed to perform it and its economic impact on the health care system. We describe a modification of the original technique, both maintaining the cortical bone in an intact state and avoiding the retrograde drill aiming device.

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with quadriceps tendon.

The author describes the technique he uses to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) arthroscopically with autologous bone-quadriceps tendon (BQT) graft. The patellar bone is fixed in a femoral tunnel about 2.5 cm long, in a position that allows the tendinous extremity of the graft to appear on the extra-articular exit of the tibial tunnel. The tibial tunnel is filled, making the integration of the tendon in the bone easier. The tendinous extremity of the graft is pulled by nonabsorbable wires, remaining strictly fixed by a staple or a screw in the anterointernal cortex of the tibia. When used in selected cases and when technical details are respected, this technique yields results similar to those obtained with the bone-patella tendon-bone (BPTB) graft. The functional recovery should be more careful with this technique than when the BPTB is used. Generally, less morbidity is seen with the BQT graft. The author believes that the BQT graft will be used more frequently, especially in ACL reconstruction, for patients whose jobs require kneeling or long periods of knee flexion, or in cases of low patella, patellar chondropathy, or tendinopathy of the patellar tendon. This technique may also be appropriate for revision surgeries.

Financiamento do Sistema Único de Saúde.

Apresentação que visa ressaltar a importância da vinculação constitucional de recursos para ações e serviços públicos de saúde, fazendo valer o que consta na EC-29/2000. Analisa o financiamento no Sistema Único de Saúde através de dados das despesas com ações e serviços de saúde por esfera de governo de 2000-2004, a porcentagem do gasto público em saúde, as despesas do Ministério da Saúde em função do PIB, as receitas correntes da União e as despesas do Ministério da Saúde com ações e serviços públicos em saúde de 19995-2004. Mostra a situação dos estados, por esfera de governo, em relação ao cumprimento da EC-29/2000 e constata que 17 estados deixaram de aplicar um total de 1,67 bilhão em ações de saúde. Conclui demonstrando os avanços na construção do SUS entre os anos de 2003 e 2004 e estima um maior volume de recursos para as ações e serviços de saúde.