A triple-strand anatomic medial collateral ligament reconstruction restores knee stability more completely than a double-strand reconstruction: a biomechanical study in vitro.
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Published version (online)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are many descriptions of medial collateral ligament (MCL) reconstruction, but they may not reproduce the anatomic structures and there is little evidence of their biomechanical performance. PURPOSE: To investigate the ability of "anatomic" MCL reconstruction to restore native stability after grade III MCL plus posteromedial capsule/posterior oblique ligament injuries in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Twelve cadaveric knees were mounted in a kinematic testing rig to impose tibial displacing loads while the knee was flexed-extended: 88-N anteroposterior translation, 5-N·m internal-external rotation, 8-N·m valgus-varus, and combined anterior translation plus external rotation (anteromedial rotatory instability). Joint motion was measured via optical trackers with the knee intact; after superficial MCL (sMCL), deep MCL (dMCL), and posterior oblique ligament transection; and then after MCL double- and triple-strand reconstructions. Double strands reproduced the sMCL and posterior oblique ligament and triple-strands the sMCL, dMCL, and posterior oblique ligament. The sMCL was placed 5 mm posterior to the epicondyle in the double-strand technique and at the epicondyle in the triple-strand technique. Kinematic changes were examined by repeated measures 2-way analysis of variance with posttesting. RESULTS: Transection of the sMCL, dMCL, and posterior oblique ligament increased valgus rotation (5° mean) and external rotation (9° mean). The double-strand reconstruction controlled valgus in extension but allowed 5° excess valgus in flexion and did not restore external rotation (7° excess). The triple-strand reconstruction restored both external rotation and valgus throughout flexion. CONCLUSION: In a cadaveric model, a triple-strand reconstruction including a dMCL graft restored native external rotation, while a double-strand reconstruction without a dMCL graft did not. A reconstruction with the sMCL graft placed isometrically on the medial epicondyle restored valgus rotation across the arc of knee flexion, whereas a reconstruction with a more posteriorly placed sMCL graft slackened with knee flexion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An MCL injury may rupture the anteromedial capsule and dMCL, causing anteromedial rotatory instability. Persistent MCL instability increases the likelihood of ACL graft failure after combined injury. A reconstruction with an anteromedial dMCL graft restored native external rotation, which may help to unload/protect an ACL graft. It is important to locate the sMCL graft isometrically at the femoral epicondyle to restore valgus across flexion.
Date Issued
2022-05-03
Date Acceptance
2022-05-01
Citation
American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2022, 50 (7)
ISSN
0363-5465
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal / Book Title
American Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume
50
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work as published without adaptation or alteration, provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Sponsor
Smith & Nephew Inc.
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35503457
Grant Number
Advanced Surgical Techniques
Subjects
anatomic reconstruction
anteromedial rotatory instability
biomechanics
medial collateral ligament
Publication Status
Published online
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2022-05-03