Knee Videos: ACL
Reefing of the Posteromedial Capsule in Anteromedial Rotatory Instability
The posterior oblique ligament (POL) is the main component of the posteromedial corner (PMC) of the knee and plays a crucial role in acting as a secondary restraint against translation, rotation, and valgus forces. Injuries to the PMC often occur in association with acute or chronic deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament and may result in anteromedial rotatory instability. A surgical technique for treatment of acute and chronic injuries of the posteromedial structures was first established by Hughston in 1973.Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction by Hamstring Tendon Autografts Through a Single Femoral Tunnel by Graft-to-Graft Suspension and Fixation
An untreated posterolateral corner (PLC) injury in patients with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) may be a leading cause of ACL reconstruction failure. Combined ACL and PLC reconstruction is discussed in few studies in the literature. Femoral tunnel intersection in combined reconstruction has been reported to be high. Short grafts may render combined reconstruction undoable. This Technical Note describes a technique that allows a combined ACL and PLC reconstruction. The ACL graft is a 4-stranded hamstring tendon graft from 1 limb.The Adjustable Locking Suspension Sling Technique for Fixation of the Tibial Eminence Fracture in Adolescents
Avulsion fractures of the tibial eminence, although generally a rare injury pattern, are more common in children and adolescents than in adults. Many open and arthroscopic techniques are available with variable degrees of satisfying results and incidence of complications and adverse effects. Arthroscopic fixation appeared to improve the functional outcomes with fewer complications than the open fixation. New techniques were reported using commercially available suspension sling devices for the acromioclavicular joint that offers an easy and rapid method of fixation.Suture Pullout Technique of Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Avulsion Repair
It was in the early 1900s that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair was first described with its resurgence in the mid-1900s. It however failed to gain popularity because of unsatisfactory early outcomes as a result of poorly selected patients. We describe a suture pullout technique of acute ACL repair in a carefully selected cohort of patients. Healing capabilities similar to that of the proximal medial collateral ligament have been shown in the proximal ACL avulsions. Adding microfracture of the lateral wall of the notch further enhances the healing environment by countering the synovial fluid environment.Radiofrequency Ablation for Mucoid Degeneration of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (MD-ACL) is an underdiagnosed ACL pathology. When recognized, one potential management strategy involves arthroscopic debridement to “debulk” the ACL. Here, with the addition of video footage, we describe our arthroscopic technique for MD-ACL debridement using radiofrequency ablation. We show the engorged, stranded MD-ACL during arthroscopy and how this engorgement causes impingement in the femoral notch, resulting in the symptoms described by the patient.All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction as a Salvage for Small or Attenuated Hamstring Grafts
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears represent one of the most common sports-related injuries in the young population. There are multiple studies showing higher failure rates in the younger population with an allograft supporting the routine use of an autograft. In addition, higher failure rates have been shown with grafts narrower than 8 mm in diameter. This places the surgeon in an operative dilemma determining what to do with a narrow graft or an attenuated hamstring during harvest. All-inside ACL reconstruction is a promising technique for reliably creating sufficiently wide grafts without the need for allograft augmentation.Arthroscopic Single-Tunnel Pullout Suture Fixation for Tibial Eminence Avulsion Fracture
Various arthroscopic techniques have been devised for fixation of tibial eminence avulsions, namely percutaneous K-wires, arthroscopy-guided screw fixation, staples, TightRope (Arthrex)–suture button fixation, and transosseous suture fixation. Such techniques provide well-pronounced advantages including less postoperative pain, a reduced hospital stay, and minimal scar with resultant earlier and more compliant rehabilitation. As for transosseous suture fixation, the standard technique comprises the creation of 2 tibial tunnels exiting on both sides of the footprint of the avulsion fracture using an anterior cruciate ligament tibial guide with the angle set at 45°.Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Suture Tape Augmentation
The advent of suture tape augmentation has led to increased use in knee, elbow, and ankle ligament repairs and reconstructions. Recent biomechanical analysis of the use of suture tape augmentation have shown superior strength characteristics compared with repair or reconstruction alone. Despite its increased use in extra-articular ligament procedures, its use as an augment to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has not been widely described. This article details a simple technique to incorporate the use of suture tape augmentation during concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring autograft.Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Amnion Biological Augmentation
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are common and unfortunate injuries for many athletes. The standard therapy for ACL rupture is ACL reconstruction with either autograft, harvested from hamstring or patellar tendon, or allograft tendon from a tissue donor. Advances in tissue engineering have produced interventions to augment the healing process and may have applications when it comes to ACL reconstruction. In this Technical Note and accompanying video, we describe a simple technique to implant an amnion matrix graft with a tendon graft during ACL reconstruction.Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Single-Bundle Repair With Augmentation for a Partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remains the gold standard for the treatment of ACL tears, repair is regaining popularity as a treatment option for proximal or distal ACL avulsions. Historically, ACL repairs had poor outcomes. To remedy this, techniques were developed using graft-based augmentation but never gained widespread popularity. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in primary ligament repairs, with newer techniques incorporating modern synthetic materials to augment the repair site.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.Graft Retensioning Technique Using an Adjustable-Loop Fixation Device in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are an unfortunate and devastating injury in the athletic patient. Surgical reconstruction of the ACL with a taut graft construct is necessary to restore knee stability and help expedite the patient's return to an active lifestyle. Arthroscopy-assisted ACL reconstruction can be a technically involved procedure, where strong fixation limits graft motion to allow sufficient healing within the tibial and femoral tunnels at the bone-tendon interfaces. Loss of tension in a graft can cause symptomatic anterior or rotatory instability and potential retear of the ACL graft.Arthroscopic Delivery of Injectable Bone Graft for Staged Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Bone defects caused by femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement can pose a significant technical challenge when planning to perform revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A number of options have been described for managing osseous deficiencies, including the use of large autograft or allograft bone dowels to provide sufficient tunnel fill and subsequent structural support for revision surgery. These techniques can be time-consuming and technically demanding to ensure proper tunnel fill and press-fit stability of the bone graft.Graft Preparation Technique to Optimize Hamstring Graft Diameter for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Hamstring autografts are frequently used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The inherent variability in graft diameter has been stated as a disadvantage in its use because the presence of smaller graft diameters has been correlated with increased risk of re-rupture. Several techniques have been described to address this concern. Modifications of the basic Graftlink technique allows for increased control over final graft diameter using a standard harvest of the semitendinosus tendon with or without the gracilis tendon, and results in a graft of adequate length and diameter in all patients with rigid cortical fixation on the femur and tibia.Hamstring Graft Preparation Techniques for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is one of the most commonly performed procedures in orthopaedics, with more than 125,000 performed in the United States per year. There are several reconstruction graft choices that can be used to reconstruct the native anterior cruciate ligament, with autograft hamstring tendons being one of the most commonly used. Preparation of a hamstring autograft varies depending on patient characteristics and physician preference. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe in detail different variants of hamstring graft preparation techniques that are commonly used in practice.Anterior Cruciate Ligament Primary Repair With Independent Tensioning of the Anteromedial and Posterolateral Bundles
This procedure represents an update on traditional primary repair methods by taking advantage of technological advancements to optimize soft tissue fixation and allow for an anatomic double-bundle primary repair with independent bundle tensioning and an internal brace construct to restore normal anterior cruciate ligament biomechanics.Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction or Revision
High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a valid treatment option for young active patients with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthrosis (OA) and varus deformity. Sometimes medial OA is combined with symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. Although isolated HTO (with possible delayed ACL reconstruction) might be indicated in the older population, young active patients may require combined HTO and ACL reconstruction. In addition, an abnormally increased tibial slope may predispose to ACL reconstruction failure and should be addressed for a successful ACL revision.Biologic and Mechanical Augmentation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Fibrin Clot Augmentation of 5-Strand Hamstring Autograft
Hamstring autografts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have an excellent clinical track record, but some patients have hamstring tendons that yield grafts of smaller diameter, which has been shown to be a significant risk factor for worse outcomes and graft failure. Some authors have advocated augmentation with allograft in these patients. Tripling the semitendinosus yields a completely autogenous 5-strand graft with a larger diameter but still of sufficient length. In addition, imaging studies still show signal heterogeneity within grafts, even autografts, after the healing process, which correlates with worse biomechanical properties.Both Posterior Root Lateral-Medial Meniscus Tears With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: The Step-by-Step Systematic Arthroscopic Repair Technique
The occurrence of posterior root tear of both the lateral and medial menisci, combined with anterior cruciate ligament rupture, is rare. Problems may be encountered such as the difficulty to access the medial meniscal root tear, the confusing circumstances about which structure to repair first, and the possibility of the tunnel for each repair to become taut inside the tibial bone. We present the arthroscopy technique step by step to overcome the difficulties in an efficient and time-preserving manner.Associated Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate and Anterolateral Ligaments With Single Asymmetric Hamstring Tendons Graft
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common disease that accounts for 250,000 cases/year in the United States. The anterolateral ligament (ALL) has been suggested to be an important restraint for rotational instability, and its reconstruction provides a reinforcement to the ACL reconstruction in this aspect, especially in high-demand athletes and in knees with high-grade pivot shift. Different techniques for associated ACL and ALL reconstruction have been described, but the ideal technique remains unclear.Arthroscopic Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair With Suture Augmentation
Historically, poor results of open primary repair of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been reported. In hindsight, however, appropriate patient selection (i.e. proximal tears and good tissue quality) was not performed, because it has recently been recognized that good outcomes of primary ACL repair are possible when selectively performed in patients with proximal tears and good tissue quality. Moreover, with modern-day advances, arthroscopic primary repair can be an excellent treatment option for patients with proximal tears.Combined Anatomic Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Double Bundle Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction
The results of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are so far satisfactory and improving over time as a result of the improved understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the ACL. Rotational instability confirmed by a positive pivot shift is present in more than 15% of cases who underwent successful ACL reconstruction. Persistent rotational instability interferes with performing pivoting sports, and also may lead to meniscal and chondral injuries, or re-rupture of the reconstructed ACL.Autogenous Hamstring-Bone Graft Preparation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Despite the popularity of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction procedures, the ideal graft for reconstruction remains a matter of controversy. The ideal graft for ACL reconstruction should have histologic and biomechanical characteristics similar to those of the native ACL; should be quickly and fully incorporated within the bony tunnels; should maintain its viscoelastic properties for a long time; should have minimal donor-site morbidity; should be of sufficient length and diameter; should have minimal adverse effects on the extensor mechanism; should have no risk of rejection or disease transmission; and should be cost-effective and readily available.Simplifying Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Bone Plug Reconstructions: The “U” Trough Technique
This Technical Note discusses an anterior cruciate ligament graft preparation technique to simplify and ease graft visualization, insertion, and fixation. Our technique incorporates a 2-mm central trough in the bone plug of the graft to improve one's ability to efficiently identify and orient the anterior cruciate ligament graft during insertion, and ensure correct screw placement and fixation.Stump Incorporation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Step Towards a More Anatomical Reconstruction
In most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, the tear is at the femoral side leaving a robust stump attached to the tibia. Stump-preserving ACL reconstruction carries the advantage of rapid reinnervation and revascularization of the graft. In this technique, the femoral tunnel is created after exposing the femoral footprint. The ACL tibial stump is split and the tip of the ACL tibial guide is introduced through this split to reach the center of the tibial footprint. The tibial tunnel is then created and the ACL stump is bored to allow the passage of the graft.
