Arthroscopic reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament by using a quadriceps tendon autograft: a minimum 5-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
We prospectively assessed 22 consecutively treated patients to determine the effectiveness and safety of arthroscopically assisted posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction by using a quadriceps tendon autograft.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with isolated PCL injury who underwent PCL reconstruction with a quadriceps tendon autograft were enrolled in the prospective study. The average follow-up period was 66 months (range, 60-76). Follow-up included Lysholm knee scores, Tegner activity scores, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, thigh muscle assessment, and radiographic assessment.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative Lysholm score for 22 knees was 67 (range, 50 to 75), and the mean postoperative Lysholm score was 89 (range, 75 to 98). Nineteen of 22 patients (86%) displayed good or excellent results in the final assessment. The mean preoperative Tegner score for 22 knees was 3 (range, 2 to 5), whereas the mean postoperative Tegner score was 6 (range, 3 to 9). There were statistically significant improvements in Lysholm score (P = .009), Tegner score (P = .039), postoperative KT-1000 arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) scores (P = .006), final IKDC rating (P = .035), and thigh atrophy and muscle strength (P < .05) when compared with preoperative data. Regarding IKDC final rating, 82% of the patients (18 of 22) were assessed as normal or nearly normal (grade A or B).


CONCLUSIONS
After follow-up for more than 60 months, the analytical results showed patients achieved satisfactory function after PCL reconstruction by using a quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft. This study suggests that a quadriceps tendon autograft is sufficiently large and strong and can achieve good ligament function after reconstruction.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic study.
Wu
Chin-Hsien
CH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chen
Alvin Chao-Yu
AC
Yuan
Li-Jen
LJ
Chang
Chung-Hsun
CH
Chan
Yi-Sheng
YS
Hsu
Kuo-Yao
KY
Wang
Ching-Jen
CJ
Chen
Wen-Jer
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000517:prevention & control; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome