Anterior cruciate ligament augmentation procedure with a 1-incision technique: anteromedial bundle or posterolateral bundle reconstruction

Abstract

Arthroscopic examination before anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction sometimes reveals that there is a relatively thick ACL remnant bridging the femur and the tibia that may function to stabilize the knee, although its attachment is not the same as the anatomic site. We have established an ACL augmentation procedure that preserves the ACL remnant with the 1-incision technique using an autogenous semitendinosus tendon and EndoButton-CL (Acufex, Smith & Nephew, Mansfield, MA) instead of ACL reconstruction. When the ACL remnant was attached to the anteroinferior portion of the anatomic femoral origin and the posterolateral (PL) bundle was well preserved, the anteromedial (AM) bundle was reconstructed. When, in contrast, the ACL remnant was attached to the high-noon position with a well-preserved AM bundle, the PL bundle should be reconstructed. We have performed 13 AM bundle reconstructions and 4 PL bundle reconstructions. The merits of our ACL augmentation procedure are (1) it is performed under arthroscopy with 1 incision, (2) it avoids resection of the ACL remnant, which contributes to prevention of anterior laxity, (3) it preserves the ACL remnant's neural elements and mechanoreceptors, and (4) it provides a favorable influence on vascularity and reinnervation to the graft.