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Effect of meniscal loss on knee stability after single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The menisci are known to be important secondary constraints to anterior translation of the tibia in the ACL-deficient knee. The effect of meniscal loss on knee stability as measured by the magnitude of the pivot shift following ACL reconstruction is unknown. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of meniscectomy on knee stability following two single-bundle ACL reconstruction strategies.

Materials and Methods

A mechanized pivot shift was performed on cadaveric specimens in the ACL-intact and ACL-deficient state. Tibiofemoral translation was recorded using a surgical navigation system. The ACL was reconstructed utilizing a nonanatomic graft (n = 10) extending from the posterolateral tibial footprint to the anteromedial femoral footprint, or an anatomic anteromedial single-bundle graft extending from the anteromedial tibial footprint to the anteromedial femoral footprint (n = 10) and testing repeated. The medial or lateral meniscus was sectioned and the examination repeated. The other meniscus was sectioned and the examination subsequently repeated.

Results

Lateral compartment translation during the pivot shift was significantly reduced following anatomic ACL reconstruction. In the nonanatomic group, lateral compartment translation increased by 9.1 mm (P < 0.001) after unicomparmental meniscectomy and 11.5 mm (P < 0.001) after bicompartmental meniscectomy. In the anatomic reconstruction group, lateral compartment translation increased by 7.6 mm (P < 0.001) after bicompartmental meniscectomy.

Conclusion

With isolated ACL injury, anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction controlled the pivot shift during time zero testing. However, significant increases in lateral compartment translation during the pivot shift are seen following bicompartmental meniscectomy. Nonanatomic ACL reconstruction was less effective in controlling the pivot shift at time zero testing, and significant increases in lateral compartment translation during the pivot shift were seen following both unicomparmental and bicompartmental meniscectomy.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 10097 Le Conte Ave., #33-55 PVUB Suite H, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Frank A. Petrigliano

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Volker Musahl

  3. Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA

    Eduardo M. Suero, Musa Citak & Andrew D. Pearle

Authors
  1. Frank A. Petrigliano
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  2. Volker Musahl
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  3. Eduardo M. Suero
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  4. Musa Citak
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  5. Andrew D. Pearle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank A. Petrigliano.

Additional information

The investigation was carried out in the Computer Assisted Surgery Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.

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Petrigliano, F.A., Musahl, V., Suero, E.M. et al. Effect of meniscal loss on knee stability after single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19 (Suppl 1), 86–93 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1537-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1537-6

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