[Arthroscopic double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using achilles tendon allograft].

OBJECTIVE

To study the method and clinical results of arthroscopic double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction using achilles tendon allograft.

METHODS

From September 2005 to September 2006, 17 patients with PCL injuries of grade III received arthroscopic double-bundle PCL reconstruction using achilles tendon allograft. There were 12 males and 5 females with an average age of 31.7 years (range, 19-48 years), including 10 cases of left PCL injuries and 7 cases of right PCL injuries. Injury was caused by sports in 6 cases and traffic accident in 11 cases. The average time from injury to surgery was 16 days (range, 7-30 days). The preoperative knee flexion was (121.8 +/- 4.1) degrees. The posterior drawer test was positive and the varus angulation test was negative in all 17 patients. Lysholm score was 50.8 +/- 6.1 and Tegner score was 1.3 +/- 0.7. The side-to-side difference was (10.5 +/- 1.6) mm by KT-1000 arthrometer.

RESULTS

The hospitalization were (13.6 +/- 2.4) days. The operation time was (67.8 +/- 9.4) minutes. The time was (5.4 +/- 1.2) days when the body temperature was higher than 37.4 degrees C after operation. All incisions healed by first intention. No complication occurred. All 17 patients were followed up 25 months on average (range, 18-30 months). The knee flexion was (116.9 +/- 3.1) degrees at the final follow-up, showing no significant difference when compared with that of preoperation (P > 0.05). The posterior drawer test and the varus angulation test were negative in all 17 patients. Lysholm score and Tegner score were 91.6 +/- 3.2 and 6.0 +/- 0.7, respectively, and the side-to-side difference was (2.7 +/- 1.7) mm, showing significant differences when compared with those of preoperation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Achilles tendon allograft is fit for PCL reconstruction. Arthroscopic double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using achilles tendon allograft can reconstruct both anterolateral and posteromedial bundles of the PCL. The knee joint function can be restored effectively. The short-term outcome has been proved, but the long-term outcome needs more observations.