Concurrent arthroscopic bicruciate ligament reconstruction using Achilles tendon-bone allografts: experience with 15 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical outcome of arthroscopically assisted combined anterior and posterior cruciate ligament (ACL/PCL) reconstructions using Achilles tendon-bone allografts.


METHODS
Associated meniscus injuries were treated according to established methods prior to ligament reconstructions during arthroscopic surgery. Thirty Achilles tendon-bone allografts were used to reconstruct torn ACL and PCL in 15 knees. At postoperative follow-up, all knees were graded using the modified IKDC and the Lysholm scoring systems just as done preoperatively.


RESULTS
were analyzed compared with the contralateral healthy knees. Results: Eleven men and 4 women with a minimum of 3-year follow-up (mean 38 months) were included in the study. Preoperatively, the group ratings by the modified IKDC standards were all severely abnormal. Twelve bicruciate reconstructions were performed in subacute or chronic stage (larger than 3-8 weeks), 3 for acute ligamentous deficiencies (less than or equal to 3 weeks). The noticeable early complication was transitory local fever combined with joint effusion in one case. At postoperative follow-up, 9 knees were normal, 5 nearly normal and 1 abnormal. On Lysholm score the difference was statistically significant (t- test, P less than 0.001) before and after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Achilles tendon-bone allograft offers an alternative for simultaneous arthroscopic ACL/PCL reconstructions. However, further investigation is needed to eradicate its potential immunogenicity for better use.
Shi
De-Hai
DH
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Cai
Dao-Zhang
DZ
Wang
Kun
K
Rong
Li-Min
LM
Xu
Yi-Chun
YC
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000637:transplantation*; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous