Posterior cruciate recession in total knee arthroplasty.
Incremental recession of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), as a part of ligamentous balancing in total knee arthroplasty, is critical if the PCL is too tight. This study was undertaken to evaluate any possible untoward effects of PCL recession. Twenty-one patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty between 1988 and 1992 with a PCL recession performed only on one side (necessary to balance the knee) served as the study group. The average follow-up period was 4 years. The patients were evaluated subjectively, by manual physical testing, by radiography, and by KT-1000 arthrometry (Medmetric, San Diego, CA). There were no significant differences between the recessed and nonrecessed knees. The conclusion is that PCL recession is appropriate and safe long-term for the patient in whom the PCL is found to be too tight at the time of knee arthroplasty.
Worland
R L
RL
HealthSouth Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Jessup
D E
DE
Johnson
J
J
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors