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Mr. MBI, a 32 year-old teacher twisted his left knee while playing sepaktakraw
following his bicycle kick and landed on his left leg. The left lower leg twisted
outward with a pop sound. He was not able to continue with the games after that.
The swelling developed within two hours to the maximum. He went to the near by
clinic and was treated with bandage and analgesic.
The pain and swelling disappeared after three weeks and he was able to work after
that. He had no locking symptoms but had difficulties in going down and up stairs
but worse on going downstairs. He tried to play sepaktakraw again but few times
his knee gave way.
Examination of the left knee revealed the quadriceps was wasted. No knee
effusion. He had tenderness at the medial joint line. The left knee has about 5 o of
fixed flexion and pain on extremen flexion beyond 135o. Lachman and anterior
drawer test were positive grade 2. Modified pivot test was positive. Mc Murray test
was negative
Diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament was made. The option of anterior cruciate
reconstruction and conservative treatment with lifestyle modification were
discussed in lengthy with the patient and the expectation of reconstruction was
explained. He opted for reconstructive surgery using bone patellar tendon bone
autograft. The operation was done on the January 2003 without complication.
Closed chain exercise started immediate after surgery. He was follow up after 2
weeks post surgery. He was able to perform straight leg raising and sliding hip and
knee movement. He was able to walk without crutches at 4 weeks. At 10 weeks his
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passive range of movement was 0-100o and active was 90o. He was happy with the
surgical outcome.
Discussion
Sports-related injuries involving the knee are common, with the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) being the most frequently injured ligament. Football, soccer,
skiing, and basketball are the sports most implicated in this injury. The anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures occur > 200,000 in American population each
year. (Albright et al, 1999) Severities of injury vary from mild sprain to complete
disruption. Worst injury occur when the combination of medial collateral ligament,
medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament occur in combination known as
unhappy triad of ODonoghue (ODonoghue, 1950). Female athlete has a higher
risk to ACL injury (Mary, 2002).
Anatomically anterior cruciate ligament is an intraarticular and extrasynovial
ligament. The femoral attachment of the ACL is at the posterior part of the inner
surface of the lateral femoral condyle. The ACL fibers fan out as they approach
their tibial insertion, anterior and lateral to anterior tibial spine after passed beneath
the transverse meniscus ligament. A few fibers of the ACL may blend with the
anterior attachment of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as well as with the
posterior attachment of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus.
Girgis et al (1975) divided the ACL into two parts, the anteromedial band (AMB)
and the posterolateral band (PLB) base on its tibial insertion. The fascicles of the
AMB originate at the most posterior and proximal aspect of the femoral attachment
and insert at the anteromedial aspect of the tibial attachment. Conversely, the
fascicles of the PLB originate at the distal aspect of the femoral attachment and
insert at the posterolateral aspect of the tibial attachment. The AMB is smaller than
PLB. The length and orientation of the bundles change as the knee passes through
motion. With passive flexion, the AMB tightens and the PLB is relatively lax.
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When the knee is extended, the PLB tightens and the AMB remains fairly tight but
is not as predominant as the PLB.
ACL has limited ability to form scar tissue and to heal. Mid substance tear also
incapable to heal. The ACL has a thin, vascularized envelope formed by the
synovial lining. When this synovial sheath is torn during injury, blood dissipates
within the joint and does not form a local fibrinous mesh at the site of injury and
therefore compromise healing. Presence of free radical following the injury also
compromised healing process.
The main ACL function is to resist anterior displacement of tibia in relation to
femur in all flexion position especially at 15 to 30o of flexion. ACL help to resist
hyperextension. It is also contributed to rotational stability of fully extended knee
for both internal and external rotation. When the ACL is ruptured, the knee
depends on other structure to prevent anterior translation and internal rotation. As
the knee extend the secondary restrainer become lax and the tibia translated
forward. It reduced back when the knee flexed around 20 to 30 o.This subluxation
and reduction movement known as pivot shift. This is caused by the action of
iliotibial tract. Beynnon et al (1997) concluded the ACL functions as a major
secondary restraint to internal rotation and as a minor secondary restraint to
external rotation and varus-valgus angulation, particularly under weight-bearing
conditions.
The classic history of a person sustaining an isolated ACL injury consists of a noncontact deceleration mechanism, usually occurring with a sudden stopping, cutting,
or jumping maneuver with a pop sound and hyperextension knee. Usually patient
cannot continue with the game due to unstable joint and haemarthrosis occur
within hours. The likelihood is more than 70% that the patient has torn the ACL
(De Haven, 1980). Contact injuries are more likely to result in multiligament
injuries, as is seen with O'Donoghue's classic triad in which a direct blow valgus
load on the knee results in injury to the ACL, medial collateral ligament (MCL),
and medial meniscus such as lateral tackle of rugby player. The differential
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89
important to evaluate the medial and lateral joint spaces for degeneration or
osteochondral injuries, subluxation and/or tilt of the patellafemoral joint as well as
degeneration or osteochondral injury. Standard radiograph of the knee may
demonstrate a pathognomonic sign of ACL injury, an avulsion of the lateral
meniscal capsular ligament from a lateral tibial plateau known as Segond
fracture.
The most accurate imaging for the ACL has been magnetic resonance imaging.
(MRI) MRI was 93 % accuracy in detecting ACL pathology. Negative predictive
value was 98% and positive predictive value was 76% (Fischer et al, 1991). MRI is
expensive and poorly tolerated by many patients. Advantage of preoperative MRI
is the detection of associated meniscal pathology, noninvasive and no radiation
risk.
A normal ACL is a taut, straight anterior margin with low signal intensity on all
pulse sequence. Because of fanlike configuration a gray slightly inhomogenous
signal may not be seen in its entirely on a single sagital slice. Direct signs of tear is
an amorphous edematous mass with focal increase signal T2-weighted images.
Interruption of fibres with tears seen at midsubstance or at tibial or femoral
attachment (Moore, 2003).
There are many arthrometers available and the KT-1000 is the most reliable. KT1000 arthrometer reported specificity of 90 percent to 95 percent (Bach et al, 1990)
(Daniel et al, 1985). The KT-1000 and Lachman examinations were more accurate
in predicting complete acute ACL ruptures. DeHaven et al (1980) compared the
results of arthroscopy with clinical anterior-drawer, pivot-shift, anteromedial
rotatory instability and Lachman tests. False-negative results were found in 72
percent to 84 percent of conscious patients with the first three clinical tests but in
only 16 percent with the Lachman test. Under anaesthesia, the pivot-shift test
improved to 16 percent false-negative results and the Lachman test reached 100
percent accuracy.
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Not all patients with ACL tear will have symptoms and progress to arthrosis.
Patient who is at risk of giving way is most likely will benefit from reconstructive
surgery. The incidence and progression of osteoarthritis following an anterior
cruciate disruption is not only on the ligament tear but also on the associated injury
e.g. meniscal tears, and osteochondral lesions.
MacDaniel and Dameron et al (1983) reported an average 10-year follow-up of
untreated ACLs exhibited radiographic osteoarthritis in 16% and arthroscopic
changes in 24%. They revealed a definite relationship between osteoarthritis and a
varus deformity, medial menisectomy, and medial joint space narrowing. Sherman
et al (1988) reported that patients with chronic ACL deficient knees and a
menisectomy showed more progressive degenerative changes by radiographic
criteria. But at 10 years all knees were doing poorly regardless of meniscal status.
A higher incidence of osteoarthritis after lateral menisectomy or in knees with
abnormal alignment also been reported by Allen et al (1984).
Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament is carried out for stability and
protection of the menisci and articular cartilage to alter the natural history of
osteoarthritic progression. ACL reconstructive surgery will eliminate the pivot shift
phenomenon (e.g. anterior subluxation of the tibia). In the anterior cruciate
deficient knee, the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is the primary stabilizer
to anterior translation and explains the high incidence of secondary medial
meniscal tears in chronic ACL insufficiency (Shoemaker et al, 1986). Rupture of
the posterior horn resulting in increased instability. Stabilization decreased the
progression of arthritis. Preservation of meniscus as much as possible is the best
warranty for slowing down degenerative arthritis after cruciate ligament injury
(Shoemaker et al, 1986).
De Jour et al (1994) found that in patients who underwent an ACL reconstruction 2
years after injury, medial meniscal tears occurred in 30% and lateral meniscal tears
in 7%. This increased to 60% for the medial meniscus and 15% for the lateral
meniscus 10 years from injury. Shelton et al (1997) followed 44 conservatively
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treated ACL deficient patients prospectively who elected to return to sports with a
brace. They had a normal meniscus on MR imaging. In the 29 patients requiring
reconstruction, 23 menisci were torn in 17 patients. Finsterbush et al (1990)
reviewed 98 patients who had an isolated ACL rupture at arthroscopy and found at
a mean of 4.2 years, 71% of them has meniscal injury in repeat arthroscopy.
There is great controversy as to whether a reconstruction prevents osteoarthritis.
Shino et al (1989) contributed the most thorough evaluation of osteoarthritic
development by arthroscopically documenting the progression of articular cartilage
lesions in 49 of 201 patients who received an allograft ACL reconstruction at a
mean of 30 months after surgery. He found that patients who had pre-existing
articular cartilage deterioration, loss of the corresponding meniscus, and had
returned to strenuous activities, showed continued deterioration of the articular
cartilage. These suggest ACL reconstruction for patient who wants to continue high
level sport activity and reluctant life style modification.
Result of conservative management of ACL tears deteriorate with time. An ACL
reconstruction result in a lesser degree or slower development of degenerative joint
disease is not being proven. Even a prompt reconstruction and an excellent
rehabilitation do not alter the natural history of a major intra-articular derangement
of the knee. A recent well-controlled prospective study from Sweden has shown no
significant difference in the number of professional soccer players who had retired
from the sport and who had a similar degree of degenerative joint disease 7 years
after tearing the ACL, regardless of whether they had undergone reconstruction or
conservative management (Ross et al, 1995). Buss et al (1995) reported a good
patient satisfaction level among who is > 30 years old, sedentary lifestyle and low
athletic demand with conservative treatment. Casteleyn et al (1996) reported that
patients who are willing to avoid high demand activities can have acceptable
functional results after non-operative treatment of an ACL injury. The outcome
does not appear to deteriorate with time and includes only very limited
osteoarthritic changes.
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the
bone-patellar
tendon-bone
graft
(BPTB)
and
the
quadruple
93
94
Intact ACL
Bone-patellar tendon-bone (10 mm)
Quadruple hamstring graft
Quadriceps tendon (10 mm)
Anterior tibialis
Posterior tibialis
Stiffness (N/mm)
2160
2376
4108
2352
3412
3391
242
35
53
463
344
302
Biomechanical properties of ACL Graft (Miller et al. graft selection in anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction. Orthop Clin N Am 2002; 33; 676).
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The morbidity associated with autograft harvest and the supply of allograft has
increased the interest in allograft. Allograft is now commonly used for multiple
ligament reconstructions, revision ligament reconstructions, and for patients who
are not high-performance athletes. Four areas are of particular concern when using
allograft: immunogenicity of the allografts, preservation and secondary
sterilization of the grafts, remodeling and its effects on mechanical properties and
most importantly, the potential of transmission of disease. The decrease in tensile
properties with sterilization and preservation as well as risk of inflammatory
reaction and its slower biologic incorporation has been a concern.
The most commonly used allografts include BPTB, Achilles' tendon, hamstrings,
anterior tibialis, and posterior tibialis. Allograft needs adequate preparation
because of potential and risk of disease transmission. There have been three
reported incidences of disease transmission from bonepatellar tendonbone
allograft used to reconstruct the ACL (Conrad et al, 1995).
Allograft is usually preserved by deep freezing or freeze-drying. Deep freezing
without drying has little or no effect on the mechanical properties of ligaments,
with no significant differences in the stiffness, ultimate load, or modulus noted
between treated and control ligaments (Jackson et al, 1991). However, freeze-thaw
treatments can damage cells and matrices, resulting in inferior biomechanical
properties.
Sterilization of allograft tissues must be optimal to avoid contamination but
expensive and time-consuming. Secondary sterilization can be achieved by
ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation, but each has detrimental effects on the
allograft. Ethylene oxide derivatives remain on the tissue and can cause persistent
synovitis, graft failure and cystic changes around the graft tunnels. Thus it is not
recommended for allograft sterilization (Jackson et al, 1993) Gamma irradiation
can reduce the risk of disease transmission; but, it also has adverse effects on the
tensile properties of ligaments. Irradiation alters tissue morphology, during which
collagen fascicles become separated and the ligaments become visibly crimped.
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Currently, allograft are usually harvested in a sterile environment and kept sterile
by deep freezing, or low-dose irradiation is used to achieve sterilization. Animal
studies shown that deep frozen gamma radiated ACL allograft have the potential to
attain the biomechanical properties of the normal ACL. Salehpour et al (1995)
compared human BTB treated with either no irradiation or 4-Mrad. No significant
difference was seen at low functional loads determined by static and cyclic creep
tests, but the 4-Mrad group had significantly decreased stiffness, maximal force,
and viscoelasticity.
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revascularizes as with autograft tissue and becomes viable after implantation. The
rate of graft incorporation and remodeling are slower for allograft than autograft
reconstructions. In addition the allograft tissue deteriorate after implantation.
However, minimal differences between allograft and autograft reconstruction at 3
to 5 years of follow-up.
Noyes et al ( 1990 ) reported at a mean follow-up of 7 years that 78% of fascia lata
and 82% of BPTB allografts had restored knee stability after acute ACL
reconstruction with 14% overall failure rate,17% failure in chronic ACL ruptures,
8% with autograft BTB. He recommended BPTB use for primary ACL
reconstruction and allograft for revision surgery or for special circumstances if
autograft is not available.
Well designed rehabilitation program plays an important role in the functional
outcome following anterior cruciate reconstruction surgery. There are two different
rehabilitation programs for isolated anterior cruciate reconstructed patient;
accelerated rehabilitation program and regular rehabilitation program. The
accelerated program is used in young and active patient. It differ in the rate of
progression in the various stage of rehabilitation and time needed before start
running and return back to sport.
Following
anterior
cruciate
reconstruction,
joint
stiffness, arthrofibrosis,
quadriceps weakness, extensor mechanism dysfunction and donor site pain may
occur. It could be a result of immobilization. Shelbourne et al (1990) reported an
improved clinical outcome following accelerated rehabilitation program. Better
strength and range of motion, fewer complications such as arthrofibrosis, laxity
and failure, less patellafemoral pain and earlier return to sport.
Preoperatively, the aim of physiotherapy are to reduce pain, inflammation and
swelling, to restore full range of movement, achieve normal gait, prevent muscle
atrophy and mental preparation. Following surgery, emphasized on full knee
extension and gradual restoration of flexion range of motion. Weight-bearing as
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Conclusion
In our setting bone patella tendon bone graft is the first choice for anterior cruciate
reconstruction with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complication.
Reference ACL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
99
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
100
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Mary L I. The female ACL: why is it more prone to injury ?. Orthop Clin
N Am 2002 ; 33 : 637-51.
23.
24.
25.
101
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
et al . Arthroscopic follow-up of
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37.
Shoemaker S C, Markolf K L . The role of the meniscus in the anteriorposterior stability of the loaded anterior cruciate-deficient knee: Effects of
partial versus total excision. J Bone Joint Surg 1986 ; 68-A :71-79.
38.
39.
40.
41.