title: In vitro study of knee stability after two-band two-tunnel posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ability of three different reconstruction procedures in restoring the posterior displacement of tibia and the posterior stability of the knee joint from 0 degree to 120 degrees flexion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three posterior cruciate ligaments (PCL) reconstruction procedures were performed, namely two-band two-tunnel reconstruction, one-band anterior tunnel reconstruction and one-band posterior tunnel reconstruction. The posterior displacement of the tibia in relation to the femur was measured when a 200N posterior force was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the flexion range of 0 degree to 30 degrees, the displacement in the one-band posterior tunnel reconstruction showed little difference from that of an intact knee (P>0.05). But when the flexion exceeded 30 degrees, especially when it exceeded 60 degrees, the displacement in one-band posterior tunnel reconstruction was much greater than that of an intact knee (P<0.01). In two-band two-tunnel reconstruction and one-band anterior tunnel reconstruction, the displacement was approximately the same as that of an intact knee ranging from 0 degree to 120 degrees (P>0.05), while a slight over-restriction might be found at some angles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-band reconstruction could effectively restrict the posterior displacement of the tibia and restore anterior, posterior stability of the knee joint within its full range of flexion. One-band anterior tunnel reconstruction also could maintain the posterior stability of the knee, while the result of one-band posterior tunnel reconstruction is the most unsatisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200011, China. maoyuanqing@citiz.net
authors.forename: Yuan-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Bai-cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhen-an
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular