[A clinical report on arthroscopic reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament using ligament advanced reinforcement system].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the operative techniques and preliminary clinical effect of arthroscopic reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) using ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS).

METHODS

From June 2006 to July 2007, 9 patients with PCL rupture were treated with LARS under arthroscopic observation. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged 23-49 years old. The left knee was involved in 3 cases and the right knee in 6 cases. The main causes of injuries were sports in 5 cases, falling in 1 case and traffic accident in 3 cases. The time from injury to reconstruction was 6-20 days (13.6 days on average). There were 2 cases with associated medial meniscus injury and 1 with lateral meniscus injury. X-ray films showed no avulsion fracture of tibial plateau was found. The preoperative Lysholm score was 40-55 (50 on average). According to the preoperative international knee documentation committee (IKDC) grading, 1 case was graded as C and 8 as D. The Lachman test showed that there was 1 case (+), 6 cases (++) and 2 cases (+++). The operation was performed under arthroscopic observation. The tibial isometric point and tunnel were drilled with the help of a drill bit guide, while the femoral isometric point and tunnel were drilled under the C-arm X-ray machine. The diameter of the bone tunnels was 6 mm, while the diameters of LARS artificial ligaments and cannulated interference screws were 7 mm.

RESULTS

All the patients were regularly followed up for 8-16 months (10.5 months on average). The postoperative Lysholm score was 70-95 (85 on average). There were 5 cases of excellent, 3 of good and 1 of fair, with the choiceness rate of 88%. The postoperative IKDC grading showed that 7 cases were graded as A and 2 as B. The Lachman test showed that no case was positive. Complications such as infection, spontaneous rupture or laxity of graft were not observed.

CONCLUSION

PCL arthroscopic reconstruction with the use of LARS artificial ligaments leads to a good anatomic reconstruction and knee function with minor injury, rapid recovery and satisfactory clinical effect.