Surgical and Biomechanical Perspectives on Osteoarthritis and the ACL Deficient Knee: A Critical Review of the Literature

Meniscal Tear Management Associated with ACL Reconstruction

Meniscal lesions often occur in association with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at the moment of the injury or, secondarily, as a consequence of knee instability. Both ACL and meniscus lesions are associated with a higher risk of osteoarthritis. Adequate treatment of these lesions reduces the rate of degenerative changes in the affected knee. Meniscal tears should be addressed concomitantly with ACL reconstruction and the treatment must be oriented towards preserving the meniscal tissue anytime this is possible. Several options for approaching a meniscus tear are available. The meniscal suture should always be considered, and, if possible, meniscectomy should be the last choice. “Masterly neglect” is a valuable option in selected cases.

The protective effect of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on articular cartilage: a systematic review of animal studies

OBJECTIVE

It is unclear if anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can prevent the onset of degenerative changes in the knee. Previous studies were inconclusive on this subject. The aim of this study was to systematically review all studies on the effect of ACL reconstruction on articular cartilage in animals.

DESIGN

Pubmed and Embase were searched to identify all original articles concerning the effect of ACL reconstruction on articular cartilage compared with both its positive (ACL transection) and negative (sham and/or non-operated) control in animals. Subsequently a Risk of bias and meta analysis was conducted based on five outcomes (gross macroscopic assessment, medical imaging, histological histochemical grading, histomophometrics and biomechanical characterization) related to articular cartilage.

RESULTS

From the 19 included studies, 29 independent comparisons could be identified which underwent ACL reconstruction with an average timing of data collection of 23 weeks (range 1-104 weeks). Due to limited data availability meta-analysis could only be conducted for gross macroscopic damage. ACL reconstruction caused significant gross macroscopic damage compared with intact controls (SMD 2.0 [0.88; 3.13]). These findings were supported by individual studies reporting on histomorphometrics, histology and imaging. No significant gross macroscopic damage was found when ACL reconstruction was compared with ACL transection (SMD -0.64 [-1.85; 0.57]).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review with an average follow up of included studies of 23 weeks (range 1-104 weeks) demonstrates that, in animals, ACL reconstruction does not protect articular cartilage from degenerative changes. The consistency of the direction of effect, provides some reassurance that the direction of effect in humans might be the same.

Comparison of patellar tendon versus hamstrings autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in Indian population: A randomised control trial study

Disruption of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common ligamentous injury of the knee. The best choice of graft for reconstruction remains undecided. This prospective, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare clinical results of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) grafts and four-strand semitendinosus-gracilis (QHT) grafts for ACL reconstruction over a 1-year follow-up interval in Indian population.

METHODS

42 consecutive patients with ACL injury were recruited, by pick and draw method and allotted into two groups with 21 patients in each group. Group A patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using BPTB graft while QHT autograft was used for patients in Group B. All the patients underwent standard ipsilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction procedure using a single incision, antero-medial (AM) portal technique for BPTB or the QHT autograft by a same surgeon. Patients were followed up regularly for a minimum period of 1 year.

RESULTS

After one year, the Cincinnati score was 91 ± 4.117 in BPTB group and 89.29 ± 5.371 in QHT group (P = 0.282). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean scores with respect to pain, overall activity level and running in the Cincinnati score. None of the patients complained of the knee giving way. Similarly, at 1 year, the Lysholm score was 92.84 ± 2.630 and 90.55 ± 2.395 in the two groups respectively (P = 0.842). There were no episodes of locking or instability and there was no significant difference in the mean Lysholm scores regarding pain and squatting.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant functional difference between the two grafts in terms of Lysholm and the Cincinnati score, anterior knee laxity and altered sensation over proximal leg. The patients with QHT groups performed better than BPTB functionally at 6 month so early return to sport is possible even with QHT autograft.

Progressive Changes in Walking Kinematics and Kinetics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction: A Review and Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) result in persistent alterations in lower extremity movement patterns. The progression of lower extremity biomechanics from the time of injury has not been described.

OBJECTIVE

  To compare the 3-dimensional (3D) lower extremity kinematics and kinetics of walking among individuals with ACL deficiency (ACLD), individuals with ACLR, and healthy control participants from 3 to 64 months after ACLR.

DATA SOURCES

  We searched PubMed and Web of Science from 1970 through 2013.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

  We selected only articles that provided peak kinematic and kinetic values during walking in individuals with ACLD or ACLR and comparison with a healthy control group or the contralateral uninjured limb.

DATA SYNTHESIS

  A total of 27 of 511 identified studies were included. Weighted means, pooled standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the healthy control, ACLD, and ACLR groups at each reported time since surgery. The magnitude of between-groups (ACLR versus ACLD, control, or contralateral limb) differences at each time point was evaluated using Cohen d effect sizes and associated 95% confidence intervals. Peak knee-flexion angle (Cohen d = -0.41) and external knee-extensor moment (Cohen d = -0.68) were smaller in the ACLD than in the healthy control group. Peak knee-flexion angle (Cohen d range = -0.78 to -1.23) and external knee-extensor moment (Cohen d range = -1.39 to -2.16) were smaller in the ACLR group from 10 to 40 months after ACLR. Reductions in external knee-adduction moment (Cohen d range = -0.50 to -1.23) were present from 9 to 42 months after ACLR.

CONCLUSIONS

  Reductions in peak knee-flexion angle, external knee-flexion moment, and external knee-adduction moment were present in the ACLD and ACLR groups. This movement profile during the loading phase of gait has been linked to knee-cartilage degeneration and may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis after ACLR.

Biomechanical Factors Associated With Pain and Symptoms Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Few studies have investigated the associations between patient-reported outcome and gait in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction over time. Because there is an association between ACL rupture and the presence of osteoarthritis later in life, a better understanding of these relationships will help to elucidate how patients' gait pattern may affect pain and symptoms, potentially leading to better treatment for or preventing the development of knee OA.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations between gait characteristics and self-reported pain and symptoms before, 6 months after, and 1 year after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The Human Performance Center at the Orthopedic Institute at the University of California, San Francisco.

PATIENTS

Patients with full unilateral ACL tears were enrolled. A total of 43 patients were included at 12 months postsurgery.

METHODS

The independent variable in this study comprised specific gait variables in patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction. At each time point, 3-dimensional motion analysis was performed. Participants also completed the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS

The primary study outcome measurement was the KOOS and was planned before data collection began. Partial correlations were used to examine cross-sectional associations between gait characteristics and KOOS pain and symptom scores at all time points. In addition, partial correlations were performed to examine the associations between change in postoperative KOOS from 6 months to 1 year and gait characteristics at baseline and 6 months.

RESULTS

Significant associations between KOOS and gait characteristics were found at all time points, including an association between peak medial ground reaction force and pain (r = -0.344, P = .02) and symptoms (r = -0.407, P = .007) at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific gait variables may be predictive of greater pain and symptoms and less improvement over time postreconstruction. This could help to inform rehabilitation exercises post injury and pre reconstruction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Kinematic and kinetic gait deviations in males long after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Biomechanical deviations long (approx. 5years) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have not been quantified in males, despite their distinct risk profile as compared to females. These deviations can indicate altered joint loading during chronic, repetitive motions.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, comparing kinematic and kinetic variables between 15 male anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients and 15 healthy controls. During walking and running gait, measurements were taken of impact dynamics, knee and hip sagittal plane angles and moments, and knee varus angles and adduction moments.

FINDINGS

Comparing affected limbs to control limbs, significantly lower maximum (P=0.001) and initial (P=0.003) loading rates were found during running, but not in walking. Hip angles were lower for affected limbs of patients compared to the control group (P=0.039) in walking, but not during running. Between-limb comparisons showed important differences in symmetry of the affected patients. Maximum force during running was higher in the unaffected limb (P=0.015), which was linked with a higher loading rate (P=0.008). Knee flexion angle was reduced by 2° on average for the affected limb during running (P=0.010), and both walking and running knee and hip moments showed differences. Knee varus angle showed a 1° difference during walking (P<0.001), but not during running. Knee adduction moment was significantly lower (more valgus) during both walking and running.

INTERPRETATION

Male anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients demonstrate persistent, clinically important gait asymmetries and differences from healthy controls long after surgery in kinematics, kinetics, and impact biomechanics.

Molecular changes indicative of cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis development in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury

BACKGROUND

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis development. The purpose of our study was to investigate the expression levels of the apoptotic enzyme caspase 3, pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), all indicative of cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis development in patients' chondrocytes after ACL rupture.

METHODS

We investigated the correlation between grade of cartilage degradation and time from injury or patients' age. IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-13 mRNA expression levels were investigated in normal (n = 4) and chondrocytes from patients with ACL rupture (n = 33) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Moreover, MMP-13 and caspase-3 protein expression levels were evaluated by western blot analysis. Trend analysis and correlation coefficient were performed to derive the relations between gene expression (MMP13, IL-6, IL-1β) and grading of cartilage defects and between gene expression (MMP13, IL-6, IL-1β) and patients' age, respectively.

RESULTS

Correlations were established between grade of cartilage degradation and time from injury. MMP-13, IL-6, IL-1β and caspase 3 expression levels were significantly upregulated in chondrocytes from ACL-deficient knee compared to normal. Among the patients with ACL-deficient knees, a significant upregulation of MMP-13 was observed in patients with ACL-rupture > 18 months from the time of injury to arthroscopy compared to patients with ACL-injury up to 18 months, whereas IL-6 and IL-1β expression was higher in chondrocytes from patients with more than 10 months ACL injury compared to those that underwent surgery within the first 10 months after injury. Νο association was observed between IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-13 expression levels and cartilage defects or patients' age.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that increased levels of apoptotic, inflammatory and catabolic factors in chondrocytes are associated with time from injury and could contribute to cartilage degradation and osteoarthritis development after ACL rupture.

The Relationship between Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common injury, particularly in the athletic and youth populations. The known association between ACL injury and subsequent osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee merits a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between the ACL-injured knee and osteoarthritis. ACL injury, especially with concomitant meniscal or other ligamentous pathology, predisposes the knee to an increased risk of osteoarthritis. ACL insufficiency results in deterioration of the normal physiologic knee bending culminating in increased anterior tibial translation and increased internal tibial rotation. This leads to increased mean contact stresses in the posterior medial and lateral compartments under anterior and rotational loading. However, surgical reconstruction of the ACL has not been shown to reduce the risk of future OA development back to baseline and has variability based on operative factors of graft choice, timing of surgery, presence of meniscal and chondral abnormalities, and surgical technique. Known strategies to prevent OA development are applicable to patients with ACL deficiency or after ACL reconstruction and include weight management, avoidance of excessive musculoskeletal loading, and strength training. Reconstruction of the ACL does not necessarily prevent osteoarthritis in many of these patients and may depend on several external variables.

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: a comparison between bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts and fourstrand hamstring grafts

BACKGROUND

Disruption of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common ligamentous injury of the knee. The choice of graft for (ACL) reconstruction remains controversial. This prospective, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare clinical results of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) grafts and four-strand semitendinosus-gracilis (ST) grafts for ACL reconstruction over a 3-year follow-up interval.

METHODS

Seventy-one patients with an average age of 29± 4.5yearswere treated for torn ACL between 2008 and 2009. Forty-sixpatients underwent reconstruction with BPTB autograft, and 41 were treated with ST autograft. At the time of final follow-up, 37 patients in patella group and 34 patients in hamstring group were evaluated in terms of return to pre-injury activity level, pain, knee stability, range of motion, IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) score and complications.

RESULTS

At 36thmonth of follow-up, 34 (92%) and 28 (82%) patients in BPTB and ST group, respectively had good-to-excellent IKDC score (p > 0.05). The activity levels were higher in BPTB group (p> 0.05). At 3rd yearof follow up, the Lachman test was graded normal, for 23 (62%) and 11 (32%) patients in BPTB and ST group, respectively (p=0.019). Regarding the pivot-shift test, 29 (79%) and 15 (44%) patients in patella and hamstring group, respectively had normal test at the latest follow-up (p=0.021).There were no significant differences in terms of thigh circumference difference, effusion, knee range of motion, pain and complications.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate a trend toward increased graft laxity and pivot-shift grades in patients undergoing reconstruction with hamstring autograft compared with patella tendon. However, the two groups had comparable results in terms of activity level and knee function.