Endoscopic single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: results at minimum 2-year follow-up

The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with retention of the PCL remnant and hamstring tendon autograft with interference screw fixation in patients with isolated PCL laxity.

Prospective case series with minimum 2-year follow-up evaluation.

Thirty-one patients for whom conservative management had failed underwent surgery using a 4-strand hamstring tendon autograft with interference screw fixation. The median time from injury to reconstructive surgery was 9 months (range, 4 to 120 months). At a minimum of 2 years after surgery, patients were assessed with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Knee Ligament evaluation, Lysholm knee score, and KT-1000 instrumented testing.

Before surgery, the median Lysholm knee score was 64 (95% confidence interval, 51 to 67). No patient rated knee function as normal, and all patients showed at least grade 2 posterior drawer laxity. At review, the median Lysholm knee score was 94 (95% confidence interval, 83 to 94), 56% rated the knee as normal and only one patient was found to exhibit grade 2 laxity on posterior drawer testing. Before injury, 94% of patients participated in moderate or strenuous activity. This figure fell to 26% after injury and had increased to 63% at review.

Endoscopic reconstruction of PCL laxity using single-bundle 4-strand hamstring tendon autograft, without removal of the PCL stump, provides a significant reduction in knee symptoms and allows 63% of patients to return to moderate or strenuous activity. This is an effective procedure for symptomatic patients who have isolated PCL laxity and for whom conservative management has failed.