Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative review is to document effectiveness and complications of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) surgery and compare outcomes, advantages and disadvantages of reconstructive and augmentation procedures.
Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Google Scholar and Embase databases using the combined keywords "PCL reconstruction," "PCL augmentation," "clinical outcomes" and "functional outcomes" with no limit for year of publication. Articles were included if they reported data on clinical, functional and imaging outcomes who had undergone reconstruction or augmentation of the PCL for management of PCL injuries. Two authors screened the selected articles for title, abstract and full text in accordance with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of all articles was assessed by two authors according to the Coleman methodology score. The critical appraisal was made using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.
Results: A total of 34 studies, 22 retrospective, 9 prospective and 5 were randomized control trials were included by full text. The modified Coleman methodology score averaged 70.8 (SD 6.5), median 73 (range from 60 to 82). At IKDC assessment, the average rate of normal (A) and nearly normal (B) outcomes was 89.8% (SD 4.2) (from 85 to 93%; median 91.4) after PCL augmentation and 80.1% (SD 12.4) after PCL reconstruction (from 57.2 to 100%; median 81.8 %) were rated as normal (A) and nearly normal (B). The average Lysholm Knee Scores after PCL augmentation were 93.1 points (SD 1.9) and ranged from 82.1 to 94.2 (median 90.5) after PCL reconstruction. The KT 1000 difference improved from an average preoperative difference of 8.8 mm (SD 0.9) to an average postoperative of 2.1 mm (SD 0.6) after PCL augmentation (average improvement of 6.7 mm (SD 4.7)) and from 8.2 (SD 3.6) to 2.3 mm (SD 2.0) (average improvement of 5.9 mm SD 4.2) after PCL reconstruction. Postoperatively, the Telos stress radiographic side to side difference averagely improved by 8.6 mm (SD 6.1) after PCL augmentation, from 11.1 mm (SD 1.4) to 2.5 mm (SD 0.4), and by 8.0 mm (SD 5.7) after PCL reconstruction, from 11.5 mm (SD 2.2) to 3.5 mm (SD 1.3).
Conclusions: Augmentation and reconstruction procedures are grossly equivalent, but more data examining the long-term functional status, recovery to preinjury daily and sport activities and occurrence of degenerative changes are needed.
Level of evidence: IV.