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Updated: May 25, 2026

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Published on: March 1, 2024
Can the pivot-shift be eliminated by anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?
Stefano Zaffagnini1, Giulio Maria Marcheggiani Muccioli, Nicola Lopomo
13rd Orthopaedic and Traumatology Clinic and Biomechanics Laboratory, Codivilla-Putti Research Center, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli-University of Bologna, via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40100 Bologna, Italy. s.zaffagnini@biomec.ior.it
Purpose:
To assess the ability of anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in eliminating the pivot-shift phenomenon when identified by a quantitative measuring system (computer navigation or magnetic resonance imaging).
Methods:
Literature review. Medline, Google Scholar and Cochrane Reviews computerized databases research using the keywords "pivot-shift," "anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction" and "double bundle." Twelve (7 in vitro and 5 in vivo) studies met the inclusion criteria.
Results:
There was a wide variation in the absolute value of translation and rotation measured after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. There were also differences in fixation methods, pivot-shift execution conditions, applied stresses during the pivot-shift, calculation methods and reference systems utilized by measurement systems.
Conclusions:
The double-bundle reconstruction was shown to over-constrain the knee with respect to the intact value, especially closer to knee extension. This review demonstrated that anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is able to eliminate pathological translations and rotations during the pivot-shift phenomenon, as identified by quantitative measurement systems.
Level Of Evidence:
Review of Level III studies, Level III.
