BACKGROUNDRevision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can be expected to become more common as the number of primary reconstruction keeps increasing. This study aims to investigate the factors causing instability after primary ACL reconstruction, which may provide an essential scientific base to prevent surgical failure.

METHODSOne hundred and ten revision ACL surgeries were performed at our institute between November 2001 and July 2012. There were 74 men and 36 women, and the mean age at the time of revision was 27.6 years (range 16 - 56 years). The factors leading to instability after primary ACL reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSFifty-one knees failed because of bone tunnel malposition, with too anterior femoral tunnels (20 knees), posterior wall blowout (1 knee), vertical femoral tunnels (7 knees), too posterior tibial tunnels (12 knees), and too anterior tibial tunnels (10 knees). There was another knee performed with open surgery, where the femoral tunnel was drilled through the medial condyle and the tibial tunnel was too anterior. Five knees were found with malposition of the fixation. One knee with allograft was suspected of rejection and a second surgery had been made to take out the graft. Three knees met recurrent instability after postoperative infection. The other factors included traumatic (48 knees) and unidentified (12 knees).

CONCLUSIONTechnical errors were the main factors leading to instability after primary ACL reconstructions, while attention should also be paid to the risk factors of re-injury and failure of graft incorporation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important stabiliser of the knee and is commonly torn in sports injuries. Common indications for imaging after ACL reconstruction include persistent symptoms, limitation of motion and re-injury. Important postoperative complications include graft failure, impingement, arthrofibrosis and graft degeneration. This article aimed to familiarise the radiologist with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearances of properly positioned intact ACL grafts and to provide a comprehensive review of MR imaging features of complications following ACL reconstruction.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Transplants ; diagnostic imaging ; Wound Healing

We report the case of a patient with a painful subcutaneous nodule, measuring 13 mm × 17 mm, at the pretibial graft aperture site, which presented two years after a successful anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with an autologous hamstring graft. A bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide interference screw was used for graft fixation at the tibial aperture. The patient underwent surgical excision of the lesion and curettage at the tunnel aperture. Grossly, extruded fragments of the screw and a thick pseudocapsule of surrounding tissue were excised. There was no communication between the tunnel aperture and the knee joint. The graft was also intact. Histological analysis revealed fragments of the bioabsorbable material in association with fibrous and granulomatous chronic inflammatory cells. This was consistent with a foreign body reaction. The patient subsequently recovered and resumed preinjury level of activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a nodular granulomatous type reaction to foreign bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide screw material subsequent to an anterior cruciate reconstruction surgery.
Absorbable Implants ; adverse effects ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; methods ; Arthralgia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Bone Cysts ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; adverse effects ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Tibia ; Young Adult

Many complications have been reported during or after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, including infection, bleeding, tibial tunnel widening, arthrofibrosis, and graft failure. However, arterial injury has been rarely reported. This paper reports a case of an anterior tibial arterial injury during bicortical tibial drilling in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, associated with an asymptomatic occlusion of the popliteal artery. The patient had a vague pain which led to delayed diagnosis of compartment syndrome and delayed treatment with fasciotomy. All surgeons should be aware of these rare but critical complications because the results may be disastrous like muscle necrosis as in this case.
Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/*adverse effects ; *Compartment Syndromes ; Fasciotomy ; Humans ; *Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Necrosis ; *Postoperative Complications ; Republic of Korea ; Tibia/*surgery ; Tibial Arteries/*injuries

OBJECTIVETo investigate therapeutic strategy on septic arthritis after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

METHODSThe clinical data of 6 cases of septic arthritis after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in our department from March 2005 to February 2014 were analyzed. All the patients were male,ranging in age from 18 to 36 years old. After operation, the knee joint became painful and swollen, and ESR and CRP were both increased. Culture of joint fluid allowed the recovery of staphylococcus epidermidis. The patients were dealt with arthroscopic debridement and infusion-drainage. The clinical results were evaluated by Lysholm rating system and range of motion.

RESULTSThe infection of all the patients was controlled. The ESR and CRP both recovered to normal level. The score of Lysholm rating system ranged from 85 to 95,and the range of motion was 120 to 135 degree.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic debridement combined with infusion-drainage is effective in septic arthritis after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; Arthritis, Infectious ; therapy ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Debridement ; methods ; Drainage ; Humans ; Male

A 38-year-old man presented with right knee pain and swelling following a football injury. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and lateral meniscal tears. The torn ACL was repaired with a graft obtained from the semitendinosus muscle, and the menisci were debrided. The mechanisms of injury to the ACL are varied and may be due to direct or indirect contact with the knee as well as with twisting injuries. Knowledge of the ACL's normal anatomy, together with MR imaging technique and understanding of the appearance of the lesion on MR examination, is crucial to aid in the identification of an ACL tear. Diagnosis of an ACL tear should be based on direct MR imaging signs, although indirect signs may be helpful, particularly in chronic tears. Other associated injuries to be aware of include meniscal and other ligamentous injuries. Normal ACL graft and post-ACL graft reconstruction complications are also briefly discussed.
Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; pathology ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; rehabilitation ; Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafting ; adverse effects ; rehabilitation ; Football ; injuries ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; pathology ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; Soccer ; injuries ; Tendons ; transplantation

Infections following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are rare, with no previous reports citing Mycobacterium abscessus as the culprit pathogen. A 22-year-old man presented twice over three years with a painful discharging sinus over his right tibia tunnel site necessitating repeated arthroscopy and washout, months of antibiotic therapy, and ultimately culminating in the removal of the implants. In both instances, M. abscessus was present in the wound cultures, along with a coinfection of Staphyloccocus aureus during the second presentation. Though rare, M. abscessus is an important pathogen to consider in postoperative wounds presenting with chronic discharging sinuses, even in healthy non-immunocompromised patients. This case illustrates how the organism can cause an indolent infection, and how the removal of implants can be necessary to prevent the persistence of infection. Coinfection with a second organism is not uncommon and necessitates a timely change in treatment regime as well.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries/surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/*adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Infectious/etiology/*microbiology ; Arthroscopy ; Coinfection ; Device Removal ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/*microbiology ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Staphylococcal Infections/*microbiology ; *Staphylococcus aureus ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Young Adult