Objective: To investigate the feasibility and clinical effects of single bundle anterior cruciate ligament anatomical reconstruction with remnant preservation.
Methods: From October 2007 to November 2009, 17 patients (10 male and 7 female, ranging in age from 28 to 62 years, with an average of 39.3 years) with posterior cruciate ligament injuries were treated with single bundle anatomical reconstruction with remnant preservation. Nine patients had the injuries caused by traffic accident; 6 patients caused by falling down; and 2 patients caused by sports injuries. The average time from injury to surgery was 8.5 days (ranging from 2 to 14 days). The international knee documentation committee knee evaluation form (IKDC) and Lysholm were used to analysis the effect of surgery.
Results: All the patients obtained the follow-up and the average time was 29.5 months (ranging from 24 to 39 months). There were no complications such as injuries of popliteal fossa artery, tibial nerves or peroneal nerve. Twelve patients had knee joint recovering to normal; 1 patient had stiff joints and was treated with arthroscopic surgery to release after 6 months,who had postoperative flexion lack of 20 degree and straight to normal. Three patients had flexion loss of 5 to 10 degree, and 1 patient had hyperextension limitation of 5 degree. Posterior drawer test in 17 patients and the Lachman test were negative. IKDC scores of the 17 patients achieved normal(16 patients) or near normal(1 patient). IKDC overall score normal in 16 patients (94.1%), close to normal in 1 case (5.9%). The IKDC subjective score was 94.3+/-5.1 and Lysholm score was 94.7+/-3.1 at the latest follow-up.
Conclusion: The single bundle anterior cruciate ligament with remnant preservation anatomical reconstruction can provide good clinical results.