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. 2025 Aug:13:100900.
doi: 10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100900. Epub 2025 May 29.

Assessment and surgical correction of posterior tibial slope in revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery: An international expert Delphi consensus statement

Collaborators, Affiliations
Free article

Assessment and surgical correction of posterior tibial slope in revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery: An international expert Delphi consensus statement

Anja M Wackerle et al. J ISAKOS. 2025 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to provide international guidelines to enhance decision-making regarding the definition and evaluation of increased posterior tibial slope (PTS) and the role of anterior closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (ACWHTO) in the setting of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods: This guideline is based on responses from 46 international orthopaedic surgeons with expert experience in knee pathologies and osteotomy. Based on a literature review, each expert drafted and commented on a set of core statements. The provided comments were blinded and discussed within the working group to refine the statements. In a subsequent round of surveys, all experts discussed with the final 32 statements. Consensus was achieved when at least 80 ​% of survey respondents fully agreed.

Results: With respect to ACWHTO for PTS reduction, there was consensus achieved for using the medial plateau as a measurement for PTS measuring, aiming for PTS correction of 5-7°, individualizing osteotomy wedge thickness, and performing ACWHTO and revision ACLR in a single stage. There was no consensus on the type of radiographs to be used, a cut-off value for increased PTS, an absolute indication for ACWHTO the osteotomy technique, nor type of fixation. The International consensus statements aim to bridge the gap between research and clinical application to enhance clinicians' decision-making in revision ACLR management and to focus future areas of required research.

Conclusion: The literature review confirmed a paucity of evidence to guide clinicians in the diagnosis and surgical management of increased PTS. An agreement could be achieved for 25/32 statements (78 ​%) on the definition and assessment of PTS, indication, planning, surgical decision-making, and peri- and postoperative management for ACWHTO. While no consensus could be achieved for the definition of a cut-off value for pathological PTS, consensus was reached for a variety of statements on diagnostic and surgical aspects.

Level of evidence: V, expert opinion.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Consensus; Osteotomy; Posterior tibial slope.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The following authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Alan Getgood: Aesculap/B.Braun: Research support. American Journal of Sports Medicine: Editorial or governing board. Graymont Inc: IP royalties. International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy: Editorial or governing board. LinkX Robotics: Stock or stock Options. Ossur: Research support. Ostesys Robotics: Stock or stock Options. Precision OS: Stock or stock Options. Smart HTO: Stock or stock Options. Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker; Research support. Spring Loaded Technologies Inc: Stock or stock Options. Surgical Health Innovations Corp: Stock or stock Options. Volker Musahl: ACL Study Group: Board or committee member. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Arthrex, Inc: Other financial or material support. International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. JISAKOS: Board or committee member. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy: Editorial or governing board. Newclip: Paid consultant. Ostesys: Stock or stock Options. Smith & Nephew: Other financial or material support; Paid consultant. Springer: Publishing royalties, financial or material support Sachin Tapasvi: Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Assocation: Board or committee member. Indo-European Arthroscopy Arthroplasty Foundation: Board or committee member. International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Jaypee Publishers: Publishing royalties, financial or material support. journal of ISAKOS: Editorial or governing board. Newclip Technic: Paid presenter or speaker. Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker. Michael J Alaia: AAOS: Board or committee member. Arthrex, Inc: Paid consultant. Arthroscopy: Editorial or governing board. Arthroscopy Association of North America: Board or committee member. BodyCad: Paid consultant. Globus Medical: Paid consultant. Journal of Cartilage and Joint Preservation: Editorial or governing board. Mitek: Paid consultant. Orcosa, Inc: Research support. Overture: Stock or stock Options. Springer: Publishing royalties, financial or material support Annunziato Amendola: Am J Sports Med: Editorial or governing board. Arthrex, Inc: IP royalties. Bone Solutions Inc: Stock or stock Options. Journal of Isakos: Editorial or governing board. Miach Orthopedics Inc: Stock or stock Options. Springer: Publishing royalties, financial or material support. Stryker: Research support. Wolters Kluwer Health - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Publishing royalties, financial or material support Roland Becker: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy: Editorial or governing board. Mathys Ltd: Paid presenter or speaker. Charles H Brown Jr: Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker. Jorge Chahla: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Arthrex, Inc: Paid consultant. Arthroscopy Association of North America: Board or committee member. CONMED Linvatec: Paid consultant. International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Ossur: Paid consultant. RTI Surgical Inc.: Paid consultant. Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker. Vericel Corporation: Paid consultant. Mark Clatworthy: Arthrex, Inc: IP royalties; Other financial or material support. 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International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Board or committee member. Latin American Arthroscopy, Knee and Sports Society: Board or committee member. Permedica: Paid consultant. Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant. Jacques Menetrey: DePuy, A Johnson & Johnson Company: Paid consultant. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy: Editorial or governing board. Springer: Publishing royalties, financial or material support Philippe Neyret: Elsevier: Publishing royalties, financial or material support. latilini: Paid presenter or speaker. medacta: Paid presenter or speaker. Medacta international: Paid consultant. orthopaedic studio: Paid presenter or speaker. Smith & Nephew: Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker. Springer: Publishing royalties, financial or material support. Studio santé: Paid consultant. United Europe: Paid consultant. United OC: Paid presenter or speaker. Matthieu Ollivier: Arthrex, Inc: Paid consultant. 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The remaining authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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