• Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 2018

Background: We aimed to examine the factors that influence synovialization of the grafted tendon after double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction based on second-look arthroscopic findings. Methods: Out of 205 knees that were treated between August 2008 and May 2016 with double-bundle ACL reconstruction using bio-absorbable cross-pins and Endobuttons for femoral tunnel fixation, we enrolled 65 knees (64 patients) that underwent second-look arthroscopy with hardware removal at 1 year postoperatively. Measured clinical outcomes included the Lysholm score and Tegner activity score that were evaluated preoperatively and during the final follow-up. We analyzed the relationship between synovial coverage and patient age, length of the preserved remnant tissue on the tibial side, type of bundle (anteromedial or posterolateral), type of graft (autograft or allograft), and time from injury to surgery. Results: The area of synovial coverage showed a significant statistical correlation with patient age and the length of the preserved remnant tissue on the tibial side. The average synovial coverage was significantly better for the anteromedial bundle than for the posterolateral bundle, better for the autograft than for the allograft reconstruction, and better when treated in the acute stage than in the chronic stage. However, synovialization of grafted tendon did not correlate to clinical outcomes. Conclusions: While we were able to identify several factors influencing synovialization of the grafted tendon after double-bundle ACL reconstruction, including patient age, length of preserved remnant tissue of the torn ACL, type of bundle, type of graft, and time from injury to surgery, we found no evidence that increased synovialization improves clinical outcomes at 1 year postoperatively.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of preservation of the tibial remnant on the synovialization of graft tendon after the reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) based on the second look arthroscopic findings. Materials and Methods: From May 2005 to May 2012, among sixty three patients having ACL reconstruction with the four-strand hamstring using a bioabsorbable cross pin (RigidFix$^{(R)}$) for the femoral tunnel, nineteen patients who had second look arthroscopy were analyzed. We classified them into three groups according to the tibial remnant of the torn ACL for arthroscopic findings. Group 1 had less than 5 mm of a remnant tissue, Group 2 had from 6 mm to 10 mm of it, and Group 3 had more than 11 mm. We estimated the percentage of synovial coverage on the graft tendon during second look arthroscopy. We evaluated Lysholm score and Tegner activity score preoperatively and in the last follow-up. Results: At the time of ACL reconstruction, the mean length of preserved tibial remnant of torn ACL was 2.3 mm in Group 1, 7.4 mm in Group 2, and 13.7 mm in Group 3. In the second look arthroscopy, the average percentage of synovial coverage was 55.4% in Group 1, and 77.9% in Group 2, and 89.7% in Group 3. Lysholm score and Tegner activity score improved from 74.2 and 7.3 preoperatively to 94.1 and 8.5 in the last follow-up. Conclusion: The preservation of tibial remnant of torn ACL influenced the synovial coverage of the graft tendon and the volume of preserved remnant in accordance with the surface of synovial coverage. It would have a good effect on graft healing and preservation of proprioceptive function.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the 2 to 4-year follow-up results after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using transtibial femoral tunnel at 10 or 2 O'clock position. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six ACL reconstructions could be evaluated. Evaluations included 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee score, Lachman test, Pivot-shift test, KT-1000 arthrometer measurement, 2000 IKDC knee examination and second-look arthroscopy. Results: Seventy-five patients (87.2%) had over 80 in 2000 IKDC subjective knee score. Eighty-three patients (96.5%) had 1+firm end or negative Lachmann test. Seventy-eight patients (90.7%) had a negative Pivot-shift test. Eighty-three patients (96.5%) had less than 5 mm difference by KT-1000 arthrometer. Eighty patients (93.0%) were normal or nearly normal by 2000 IKDC knee examination. Second-look arthroscopy was done in fifteen cases. Nine cases showed good synovialization, four cases showed partial synovialization, two cases showed poor synovialization and graft failure was noted in one case. Conclusion: ACL reconstruction using transtibial femoral tunnel at 10 or 2 O'clock position resulted in a good outcome in terms of rotatory stability as well as antero-posterior stability.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2007

Purpose: To assess the clinical results of ACL reconstruction with a fresh frozen Achilles allograft, retrospectively and the findings of the graft in second look arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight ACL reconstructions using fresh frozen Achilles tendon allograft were included in this study between March 1999 and February 2003. The average age was 31.2 years old and the average follow-up was 16.6 months(range: 12-26 months). The clinical evaluation was done by KT-1000 arthrometer, Lysholm knee score, range of motion, Lachman and pivot-shift test. Results: In the last follow-up of Lachman test, 21 cases showed normal, 5 cases grade 1, 2 cases grade 2 and 1 case grade1. The results of pivot-shift test data, 23 cases(82.1%) were normal, 4 cases(14.3%) grade 1, 1 case(3.6%) grade 2. The mean maximum side-to-side difference was improved from 6.75mm preoperatively to 2.46mm in the last follow-up. Lysholm knee score was improved from 73.5 preoperatively to 91.6 in last follow-up. Re-rupture of the ACL graft was found in one case and one case of wound infection in the tibial incision was found. The 6 cases showed the good synovialization of the ACL graft. Conclusion: The anterior stability was restored with ACL reconstruction using fresh frozen Achilles allografts and the good synovialization was found in the second-look arthroscopy

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of intratunnel fixation in the tibial side on the arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadruple hamstring tendon at the second look arthroscopy. Materials and Method: From Dec 1999 to May 2005, we arthroscopically reexamined 32 cases who had been done arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadruple hamstring tendons. Hamstring tendons of all cases were fixed at femoral side with RigidfixTM. At the tibial side hamstring tendons were fixed only Post-tie (Group I) or Post-tie combined with IntrafixTM (Group II). At the time of second look arthroscopy mean age of cases was 30 years and mean duration for second look arthroscopy was 21.3 months. We analyzed the results with IKDC score, KT-1000 arthrometer under anesthesia, Telos stress radiography, tibial tunnel widening on the radiography and second look arthroscopic findings. Results: Group II had more superior than group I at side to side differences with KT-1000 and Telos stress radiograph, IKDC score, but the differences were insignificant. At arthroscopic evaluation, Group ll also had more superior than group I at graft tension and graft appearance, graft synovialization, but the differences were insignificant. Tibial tunnel widening in the knee AP radiograph was 2.3 mm in Group I and 1.7 mm in Group II and the difference was significant. (P=0.042) Conclusions: Additional procedure of tibial intratunnel fixation in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with autogenous hamstring tendon significantly prohibited from tibial tunnel widening but clinical results, radiologic joint stability, findings in second look arthroscopy were insignificantly different. We concluded that Post-tie itself induced satisfactory clinical results, joint stability and graft maturation and that tibial tunnel widening did not affect the results.