[Effectiveness of arthroscopic single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with remnant preservation and...

To investigate the effectiveness of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with remnant preservation and autogenous quadrupled hamstring tendons under arthroscopy.

Between October 2007 and August 2012, 32 patients with PCL rupture were treated and followed up for more than 1 year. There were 24 males and 8 females, aged 20-53 years (mean, 35.6 years). The causes of injury included traffic accident injury in 21 cases, sports injury in 8 cases, and falling injury from height in 3 cases. The disease duration ranged 1 week to 2 years (median, 6.3 weeks). Nine patients had simple PCL rupture, 23 patients complicated by ligament injury, including 10 cases of anterior cruciate ligament rupture, 11 cases of posterolateral corner injury, and 2 cases of posteromedial corner injury. Preoperative Lysholm score was 53.8 +/- 7.1. According to the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) rating criteria, 10 cases were classified as grade C and 22 cases as grade D. PCL was reconstructed with autogenous quadrupled hamstring tendons, the tendons were fixed with EndoButton at the femoral side and with interference screw at the tibial side; floats of stump were cleaned up, and the structural stability and continuity ligament remnants were preserved.

Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no early complication occurred after operation. Thirty-two patients were followed up 23.4 months on average (range, 12-36 months). All patients had no symptom of knee instability; the results of tibia sags sign, posterior drawer test, and Lachman test were negative. At last follow-up, the knee range of motion (ROM) returned to normal in all cases. The Lysholm score was 92.3 +/- 2.0, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t = -34.32, P = 0.00). According to the IKDC rating criteria, 26 cases were classified as grade A and 6 cases as grade B at last follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative grade (Z = -5.57, P = 0.00).

Arthroscopic single-bundle reconstruction of PCL with remnant preservation and quadrupled hamstring tendons has advantages of minimal trauma, simple operation, and good knee function recovery.