Isolated and combined grade-III posterior cruciate ligament tears treated with double-bundle reconstruction with use of endoscopically placed femoral tunnels and grafts: operative technique and clinical outcomes

Abstract

Background: A variety of techniques have been developed to improve clinical outcomes and objective knee stability following posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. Additional refinements in surgical and rehabilitation techniques are necessary for improvement of both subjective and objective outcomes.

Methods: All patients studied underwent endoscopic PCL reconstruction with a double-bundle allograft. All of the allografts were placed into the femoral tunnel through a lateral arthroscopic portal, secured by an all-inside method, and were passed distally through a transtibial tunnel. Modified Cincinnati subjective and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective and objective outcome scores and posterior stress radiographs of the knee were made preoperatively and at the time of final follow-up.

Results: There were a total of thirty-nine patients, including thirty-three male and six female patients, with an average age of thirty-three years. There were seven isolated PCL reconstructions and thirty-two combined reconstructions of the knee. Eight patients were not available for follow-up at a minimum of two years, leaving a cohort of thirty-one patients. Preoperative Cincinnati and IKDC subjective scores averaged 34.5 and 39.3, respectively. These scores improved significantly to 73.2 and 74.3, respectively, at an average of 2.5 years postoperatively. On posterior stress radiographs, the average posterior tibial translation of the knees was 15 mm preoperatively and improved significantly to 0.9 mm postoperatively.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing double-bundle PCL reconstruction with use of endoscopic placement of femoral tunnels had significant improvements in subjective and objective outcome scores and with objective knee stability.