Surgical Considerations in Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (rACLR) procedures are often technically and intellectually challenging. However, with careful preoperative evaluation and planning, the likelihood of success can be maximized. Understanding the various etiologies of and contributors to primary ACLR failure can guide the surgical plan in terms of whether concomitant procedures are needed. Although successful outcomes have been reported with both one-stage and two-stage rACLRs, appropriate patient selection is important. Overall, clinical outcomes including patient-reported outcomes, graft failure rates, and return to sport are worse after rACLR compared with primary ACLR. It is important to review the preoperative evaluation, surgical considerations, and outcomes of rACLR.

Transtibial Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The keys to successful posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction are to identify and treat all pathology, utilize strong graft material, accurately place tunnels in anatomic insertion sites, minimize graft bending, mechanical graft tensioning, secure graft fixation, and the appropriate postoperative rehabilitation program. Adherence to these technical principles results in successful single- and double-bundle arthroscopic transtibial tunnel PCL reconstruction based upon stress radiography, arthrometer, knee ligament rating scales, and patient satisfaction measurements. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the arthroscopic transtibial tunnel posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgical technique.

Combined ACL-PCL-Medial and Lateral Side Injuries (Global Laxity).

The multiple ligament injured knee is a complex problem in orthopedic surgery. These injuries may or may not present as acute knee dislocations, and careful assessment of the extremity vascular and neurological status is essential because of the possibility of arterial and/or venous compromise, and nerve injury. These complex injuries require a systematic approach to evaluation and treatment. Physical examination and imaging studies enable the surgeon to make a correct diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. Knee stability is improved postoperatively when evaluated with knee ligament rating scales, arthrometer testing, and stress radiographic analysis. Surgical timing depends upon the injured ligaments, vascular status of the extremity, reduction stability, and the overall health of the patient. The use of allograft tissue is preferred because of the strength of these large grafts, and the absence of donor site morbidity.

PCL Transtibial Tunnel Reconstruction.

The keys to successful posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction are to identify and treat all pathology, use strong graft material, accurately place tunnels in anatomic insertion sites, minimize graft bending, mechanical graft tensioning, secure graft fixation, and the appropriate postoperative rehabilitation program. Adherence to these technical principles results in successful single and double bundle arthroscopic transtibial tunnel PCL reconstruction based upon stress radiography, arthrometer, knee ligament rating scales, and patient satisfaction measurements. The purpose of this article is to describe the arthroscopic transtibial tunnel PCL reconstruction surgical technique.

Timing of Repair or Reconstruction after Knee Dislocation.

The multiple ligament injured knee (knee dislocation) is, often times, part of a multisystem injury complex that can include not only injuries to knee ligaments but also to blood vessels, skin, nerves, bones (fractures), head injuries, and other organ system trauma. These additional injuries can affect surgical timing for knee ligament reconstruction and also affect the results of the treatment. This article will present the author's approach and experience in the initial assessment and treatment of the acute multiple ligament injured (dislocated) knee, and also present considerations in the treatment of chronic multiple ligament injured knee.

Multiple Ligament Injured Knee: Initial Assessment and Treatment.

The multiple ligament injured knee (knee dislocation) is oftentimes part of a multisystem injury complex that can include injuries not only to knee ligaments but also to blood vessels, skin, nerves, bones (fractures), head, and other organ system trauma. These additional injuries can affect surgical timing for knee ligament reconstruction and also affect the results of treatment. This article presents the author's approach and experience to the initial assessment and treatment of the multiple ligament injured (dislocated) knee.

Comprehensive Case-Based Review of Knee Ligament Injuries.

The management of knee ligament injuries continues to evolve, and much debate persists over the timing of surgery, repair versus reconstruction, surgical technique, postoperative rehabilitation, graft selection, and fixation. Surgeons should be aware of updates on the best management strategies of knee ligament injuries in 2018 and understand the important history and physical examination findings of the knee with ligamentous injury; the anterior cruciate ligament; the role of the anterolateral ligament and lateral extra-articular tenodesis; combined anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament injuries; the posterior cruciate ligament; medial collateral ligament repair versus reconstruction; posterolateral corner repair versus reconstruction; the role of coronal plane osteotomies, including high tibial osteotomy and distal femoral osteotomy; the role of sagittal plane osteotomies, including anterior closing wedge osteotomy and anterior opening wedge osteotomy; the initial management of the multiligament-injured knee; and five keys to avoiding complications in the multiligament-injured knee. The best available evidence and sample case presentations help guide surgical decision making and improve patient outcomes.

Knee Dislocation and Multiple Ligament Injuries of the Knee.

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the progress in treatment of knee dislocations and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament knee injuries over the past 25 years. The perspectives of where we were 25 years ago, where we are today, and where we will be in the future will be explored.

Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament injury, or dislocated knee, is often part of a multisystem injury complex that not only includes the knee ligaments, but may also include blood vessels, skin, nerves, fractures, and other organ system trauma. These factors must be considered in the scope of treating this complex knee injury. These complex knee ligament injuries can result in significant functional instability for the affected individual. This article will discuss multiple ligament knee injuries evaluation, treatment, and special considerations in the pediatric and adolescent population.

Revision Posterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery.

Successful posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction surgery results from identification and treatment of associated pathology such as posterolateral instability, posteromedial instability, and lower extremity malalignment. The use of strong graft material, properly placed tunnels to as closely as possible approximate the PCL insertion sites, and minimization of graft bending also enhance the probability of PCL reconstruction success. In addition, mechanical graft tensioning, primary and back-up PCL graft fixation, and the appropriate postoperative rehabilitation program are also necessary ingredients for PCL reconstruction success. Both single-bundle and double-bundle PCL reconstruction surgical techniques are successful when evaluated with stress radiography, KT 1000 arthrometer measurements, and knee ligament rating scales. PCL reconstruction failure may result when any or all of these surgical principles are violated. The purpose of this manuscript was to discuss revision PCL surgery. This presentation will include causes of unsuccessful PCL reconstruction, surgical indications and goals, patient evaluation, surgical decision making, graft selection, surgical technique, associated surgical procedures, postoperative rehabilitation, and revision PCL reconstruction results.

Knee Injury Associated With Acetabular Fractures: A Multicenter Study of 1273 Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and pattern of the knee injury associated with acetabular fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Three level I and one level II trauma centers. PATIENTS: A total of 1273 skeletally mature patients treated at 4 trauma centers between November 2004 and December 2013 for acetabular fractures were retrospectively identified from orthopaedic trauma databases. INTERVENTION: Analysis of all acetabular fractures with knee injury regarding type of acetabular fracture, mechanism of injury, energy of injury, pattern of the knee injury, knee examination findings at initial presentation, intraoperative and on follow-up, requirement for surgery/conservative management, and the associated injuries. The clinical data entered during inpatient stay and office visits were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and pattern of the knee injury. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-three of 1273 patients (15%) were found to have ipsilateral knee symptoms within a period of 1 year from the date of injury. The patterns of knee injury included 56 fractures (29%), 49 ligamentous lesions (25%), and 88 miscellaneous (46%) causes including bone bruises, wounds, and swelling. Associated injuries included 85 patients with ipsilateral hip dislocation (45%), 59 pelvic injuries (31%), 61 extremity injuries (32%), 38 head injuries (20%), 37 chest injuries (20%), 23 abdominal and genitourinary injuries (12%), and 7 injuries of the spine (4%). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we conclude that knee injuries associated with high-energy acetabular fractures constitute a significant portion of the patient population. Ligament injuries are frequently overlooked and thorough clinical evaluation and utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in selected cases will help in early detection and prevention of long-term complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.