The patellar ligament angle (PLA) was assessed in 105 normal stifle joints of 79 dogs and 33 stifle joints of 26 dogs with a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL). The PLA of stifles with complete CrCL rupture was significantly lower than that of normal stifles, particularly at a flexion angle of 60~80degrees in both plain and stress views. If the PLA was <90.55degrees on the stress view with a 60~80degrees flexion angle, the dog was diagnosed with a complete rupture of the CrCL with a sensitivity of 83.9% and specificity of 100%. In conclusion, measuring the PLA is a quantitative method for diagnosing complete CrCL rupture in canines.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/*injuries/radiography ; Dogs/*injuries ; Patellar Ligament/physiology/*radiography ; Radiography/*veterinary ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture/veterinary

Authors analyzed the findings of nineteen cases of arthroscopic second-look operations after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and Trevira augmentation by two tunnel technique during the period from Nov, 1993 to Jan. l997 in fifty-one cases, along with the results of reconstruction in terms of clinica1 knee scoring, radiographichl and arthroscopic findings. The results were as follows; Age ranged fmm 20 to 53 years, the average being 32.3 years. Thirteen cases (68%) had associated knee injuries; five medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries, four lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries, two associated injuries of MCL and medial meniscus, one both menisci and one associated injury of anterior cruciate ligament and MCL. The average period fmm PCL injury to reconstruction was 7 weeks (range, 1 to 52 wecks) and the mean period from PCL reconstruction to second-look operation was 20.3 months (range, 10 to 46 months). The average Miiller s knee score at the last follow-up was 86 paints. The radiographical results: The distance of posterior translation of the PCL reconstrueted knee compared with the normal sidc knee in posterior stress roentgenography was average 3.8mm (range, 0 to 1 1 mm). The position of the fernoral bone block on the plane of extended Blumansaats line, from the anterior end of the line, was average 32%. The level of proximal end of the tibial bone block according to the tibial tunnel orifice into the joint was mean negative 2.6 degrees position. The findings of arthroscopic second-look examination; In 9 cases (47%), the reconstructed ligamcnts were well covered with synovial tissue and looked like almost normal PCL. There were five cases (26%) of severe fragmentation, three cases (16%) of partial torn fibers of the grafted tendon. And one case showed the thinning of thc grafted tendon compared with the initial diameter at the time of reconstruction and one case showed overgrawth of the synovial membrane which suitounding the grafted tendon. All the Trevira which were augmented at the time of PCL reconstruction were ruptured. Twelve cases (63%) were stable, three cases (16%) were slightly lax and 4 cases (21%) showed laxity of the grafted tendon by the posterior drawer test and probing under arthroscopy, The isometricity which was checked at the time of PCL reconstruction was average 3.4mm. From the ahove results, PCL reconstruction with autogenous BPTB by the two tunnel technique seemed to be a valuable procedure, but there were some cases of unfavorable results. Authors think that a new graft fixation method is needed for resolving the problem mentioned above.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Dronabinol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Menisci, Tibial ; Paint ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Radiography ; Synovial Membrane ; Tendons ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Regarding reconstruction surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), there is still a debate whether to perform a single bundle (SB) or double bundle (DB) reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the volume and surface area of femoral and tibial tunnels during transtibial SB versus transportal DB ACL reconstruction. METHODS: A consecutive series of 26 patients who underwent trantibial SB ACL reconstruction and 27 patients with transportal DB ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft from January 2010 to October 2010 were included in this study. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) was taken within one week after operation. The CT bone images were segmented with use of Mimics software v14.0. The obtained digital images were then imported in the commercial package Geomagic Studio v10.0 and SketchUp Pro v8.0 for processing. The femoral and tibial tunnel lengths, diameters, volumes and surface areas were evaluated. A comparison between the two groups was performed using the independent-samples t-test. A p-value less than the significance value of 5% (p < 0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Regarding femur tunnels, a significant difference was not found between the tunnel volume for SB technique (1,496.51 +/- 396.72 mm3) and the total tunnel volume for DB technique (1,593.81 +/- 469.42 mm3; p = 0.366). However, the total surface area for femoral tunnels was larger in DB technique (919.65 +/- 201.79 mm2) compared to SB technique (810.02 +/- 117.98 mm2; p = 0.004). For tibia tunnels, there was a significant difference between tunnel volume for the SB technique (2,070.43 +/- 565.07 mm3) and the total tunnel volume for the DB technique (2,681.93 +/- 668.09 mm3; p < or = 0.001). The tibial tunnel surface area for the SB technique (958.84 +/- 147.50 mm2) was smaller than the total tunnel surface area for the DB technique (1,493.31 +/- 220.79 mm2; p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the total femoral tunnel volume was similar between two techniques, the total surface area was larger in the DB technique. For the tibia, both total tunnel volume and the surface area were larger in DB technique.
Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries/surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/*methods ; Autografts ; Femur/*radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tendon Injuries/*radiography/rehabilitation/surgery ; Tendons/transplantation ; Tibia/*radiography/surgery

Eleven skeletally immature adolescents underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a transphyseal tibial and femoral tunnel. An autologous quadrupled hamstring tendon was used in all cases and the average follow-up was 77.7 months. Clinical results were evaluated using Lysholm knee scores and a return to pre-injury sports activities. Radiological results were evaluated using side-to-side differences of instrumented laxities and growth disturbances compared with the uninjured side on final follow-up orthoroentgenograms. The mean Lysholm score was 97.8 (range 94-100) and mean side-to-side laxity difference was 2.4 mm (range 1-4). Ten of 11 patients returned to pre-injury sports activity. No patient had a leg length discrepancy of over 1 cm or a significant abnormal angular deformity of the knee joint. Therefore, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the transphyseal tunnel and hamstring autograft in skeletally immature adolescents is believed to be a reliable treatment method, which is not associated with significant leg length discrepancy or abnormal angular deformity of the knee joint.
Adolescent ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/*injuries/radiography/*surgery ; Bone Development ; Growth Plate/injuries/radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Knee Injuries/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures/*methods ; Tendons/transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous

Computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) of four cadaveric canine stifles was performed before and after partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture in order to verify the usefulness of CTA examination for the diagnosis of partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture. To obtain the sequential true transverse image of a cranial cruciate ligament, the computed tomography gantry was angled such that the scanning plane was parallel to the fibula. True transverse images of cranial cruciate ligaments were identified on every sequential image, beginning just proximal to the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament distal to the tibial attachment, after the administration of iodinated contrast medium. A significant decrease in the area of the cranial cruciate ligament was identified on CTA imaging after partial surgical rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. This finding implies that CTA can be used for assessing partial cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/*injuries/*radiography ; Arthrography/methods/veterinary ; Contrast Media/*pharmacology ; Dog Diseases/*radiography ; Dogs ; Hindlimb ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Stifle/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/*veterinary

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of CT arthrography and virtual arthroscopy in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients who underwent CT arthrography and arthroscopy of the knee were included in this study. The ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 52 years and all of the patients were male. Sagittal, coronal, transverse and oblique coronal multiplanar reconstruction images were reformatted from CT arthrography. Virtual arthroscopy was performed from 6 standard views using a volume rendering technique. Three radiologists analyzed the MPR images and two orthopedic surgeons analyzed the virtual arthroscopic images. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of CT arthrography for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament abnormalities were 87.5%-100% and 93.3-96.7%, respectively, and those for meniscus abnormalities were 91.7%-100% and 98.1%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of virtual arthroscopy for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament abnormalities were 87.5% and 83.3-90%, respectively, and those for meniscus abnormalities were 83.3%-87.5% and 96.1-98.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CT arthrography and virtual arthroscopy showed good diagnostic accuracy for anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal abnormalities.
Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries/*radiography ; Arthrography/*methods ; Arthroscopy/*methods ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods ; Human ; Knee Injuries/*diagnosis/radiography ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial/injuries/*radiography ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

BACKGROUNDIt has been demonstrated that bone tunnel widening could appear after knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, especially for those patients whose ruptured ACL were reconstructed with semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Many factors can influence the extent of tunnel widening. Few studies have investigated the relationship between bone tunnel widening and rehabilitation procedures. This research was carried out to find the rehabilitation procedures' influence on the tibial bone tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction.

METHODSSixty-five cases, whose ACL reconstructions were done using quadrupled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons, were divided into two groups. Group A had 33 cases, 19 men, 14 women, averaged (31.2 +/- 12.4) years old, only ACL reconstruction was done using Paessler's technique, and aggressive rehabilitation procedure was used for function recovery post operation. Group B had 32 cases, 20 men, 12 women, averaged (30.3 +/- 10.3) years old. Except for ACL reconstruction, every patient in group B accepted meniscus repair using re-fixation methods or cartilage repair using microfracture technique, conservative rehabilitation procedure was used post operation. Six months post operation, standard posterior-anterior radiographic plates were taken for each case, CorelDRAW 8.0 software was used to digitize all X-ray plates and measure the upper, middle and lower parts of the tibial tunnel. Magnification effect of X-ray plates was taken out after measurement.

RESULTSSix months after ACL reconstruction the tibial tunnel widening of the upper, middle and lower parts on both the posterior-anterior and lateral X-ray plates in Group A with aggressive rehabilitation procedure was much more serious than in Group B with conservative rehabilitation. KT-1000 knee stability measurement and clinical manifestation showed no difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSRehabilitation procedure after ACL reconstruction is one of the reasons for tunnel widening. It not only can directly influence the function recovery of ACL reconstructed knee, but also perhaps indirectly influence the function recovery and long-term clinical result of the operated knee by influencing the tunnel widening.

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; Knee Injuries ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Radiography ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tendons ; transplantation ; Tibia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology