Simultaneous ACL and PCL reconstruction

The results of 11 patients who underwent simultaneous arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction for acute (n=7) or chronic (n=4) multiligamentous knee injuries were reviewed. Seven patients were treated with a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft for the ACL reconstruction and an Achilles allograft for the PCL reconstruction, three patients with ipsilateral/contralateral BPTB autografts, and one patient with BPTB allograft for ACL and Achilles allograft for PCL. Seven patients were operated on acutely (<3 months postinjury), and 4 were treated for chronic conditions. At follow-up, all patients were subjectively and functionally evaluated with a Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale. Average patient age at surgery was 29 years, and average postoperative follow-up was 28.4 months. Average postoperative Lysholm score was 87.7 (range: 49-100). Four of 11 patients reported occasional mild pain, 2 occasional swelling, and 4 infrequent instability. No patient required a postoperative manipulation to regain his or her range of motion and 10 of the 11 returned to their previous activity level postoperatively. Of the 10 patients able to return for clinical examination, 2 demonstrated a loss of flexion <5 degrees compared to the other side, 7 demonstrated a mild postoperative posterior drawer at 90 degrees (6 at 1+, 1 at 2+), 3 demonstrated a positive Lachman (grade 1), whereas no patient demonstrated any posterior lateral corner instability. The average anterior active difference on KT-1000 was 2.6 (range: 0-6). Simultaneous reconstruction of the ACL and PCL, although technically difficult, is feasible and yields good to excellent functional results.