High incidence of tunnel collision in combined ACL reconstruction and LET

Aims and Objectives: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) procedures are being increasingly performed as concomitant procedures to both primary and revision intra-articular ACL reconstructions with the purpose of controlling excessive anterolateral rotatory instability and to reduce tension on the ACL graft. There is, however, a lack of evidence on benefits and pitfalls of different femoral LET attachment positions. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of tunnel convergence in combined ACL and LET procedures comparing two different femoral attachment sites (Lemaire and MacIntosh). Materials and Methods: 10 fresh-frozen cadaver knees were examined. In each specimen an anatomic ACL femoral tunnel and two LET tunnels were drilled applying the Lemaire and MacIntosh position. Following knee dissection, minimal distances between ACL and LET tunnels were directly measured on the lateral femoral cortex. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained to measure inter-tunnel convergence and lateral femoral condyle (LFC) width. Based on the average LFC width, knees were divided into large and small knees to determine a relationship between knee size and tunnel convergence. Results: Convergence of ACL and LET tunnels occurred in 7 of 10 cases (70%) using the Lemaire attachment position. All tunnel collisions occurred directly on the lateral femoral cortex, while inter-tunnel conflicts were not observed. Collisions emerged in both, small (n=4) and large (n=3) knees. Critical tunnel convergence did not occur using the MacIntosh position. The mean minimal distance between the LET and ACL tunnel using the Lemaire and MacIntosh position was 3.1±4.6 mm and 9.8±5.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion: A high risk of tunnel convergence was observed in combined ACL and LET reconstruction using the Lemaire technique, independent of the knee size. LET femoral tunnel positioning according to the MacIntosh reconstruction can significantly reduce the risk of tunnel collision. These findings help to intraoperatively raise the awareness for the risk of tunnel convergence in combined ACL and LET procedures. Adjustments on ACL reconstruction techniques and especially on the femoral fixation have to be considered when applying an additional Lemaire reconstruction.

A Knee Size-Independent Parameter for Malalignment of the Distal Patellofemoral Joint in Children

Introduction. Patellar instability (PI) is a common finding in children. Current parameters describing patellofemoral joint alignment do not account for knee size. Additionally, most parameters utilize joint-crossing tibiofemoral landmarks and are prone to errors. The aim of the present study was to develop a knee size-independent parameter that is suitable for pediatric or small knees and determines the malpositioning of the distal patellar tendon insertion solely utilizing tibial landmarks. Methods. Sixty-one pediatric knees were included in the study. The tibial tubercle posterior cruciate ligament distance (TTPCL) was measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tibial head diameter (THD) was utilized as a parameter for knee size. An index was calculated for the TTPCL and THD (TTPCL/THD). One-hundred adult knees were analyzed to correlate the data with a normalized cohort. Results. The THD was significantly lower in healthy females than in males (69.3 mm ± 0.8 mm vs. 79.1 mm ± 0.7 mm; p<0.001) and therefore was chosen to serve as a knee size parameter. However, no gender differences were found for the TTPCL/THD index in the healthy adult study cohort. The TTPCL/THD was significantly higher in adult PI patients than in the control group (0.301 ± 0.007 vs. 0.270 ± 0.007; p=0.005). This finding was repeated in the PI group when the pediatric cohort was analyzed (0.316 ± 0.008 vs. 0.288 ± 0.010; p=0.033). Conclusion. The TTPCL/THD index represents a novel knee size-independent measure describing malpositioning of the distal patellar tendon insertion determined solely by tibial landmarks.

High Risk of Tunnel Convergence in Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis

Background: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) is being increasingly added to primary and revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to address residual anterolateral rotatory instability. However, currently there is a lack of knowledge on how close the femoral tunnels are when combining these procedures. Purpose/Hypotheses: To assess the risk of tunnel convergence in combined ACL and LET procedures using 2 different surgical techniques (Lemaire and MacIntosh). It was hypothesized that the risk of tunnel convergence would be greater when using the more distally located Lemaire position. The authors further hypothesized that tunnel proximity would be influenced by knee size. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were used for this study. In each specimen, an anatomic ACL femoral tunnel and 2 LET tunnels were drilled using the Lemaire and MacIntosh positions, respectively. After knee dissection, minimal distances between each ACL and LET tunnel were directly measured on the lateral femoral cortex. Furthermore, computed tomography scans were obtained to measure intertunnel convergence and lateral femoral condyle (LFC) width. On the basis of the average LFC width, knees were divided into large and small knees to determine a relationship between knee size and tunnel convergence. Results: Convergence of ACL and LET tunnels occurred in 7 of 10 cases (70%) using the Lemaire attachment position. All tunnel collisions occurred directly on the lateral femoral cortex, while intertunnel (intramedullary) conflicts were not observed. Collisions emerged in both small (n = 4) and large (n = 3) knees. Critical tunnel convergence did not occur using the MacIntosh position. The mean minimal distance between the LET and ACL tunnel using the Lemaire and MacIntosh positions was 3.1 ± 4.6 mm and 9.8 ± 5.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Tunnel convergence was more frequently observed in combined ACL and LET reconstruction using the Lemaire technique, independent of the knee size. LET femoral tunnel positioning according to the MacIntosh reconstruction was not associated with tunnel collision. Clinical Relevance: These findings help to raise the awareness for the risk of tunnel convergence in combined ACL and LET procedures. Surgeons may contemplate adjustments on the ACL femoral tunnel drilling technique or fixation device when applying an additional Lemaire procedure. However, in the absence of clinical outcome studies comparing different LET techniques, it remains unclear which technique is superior in a clinical setting.

Do Knee Moments Normalized to Measures of Knee Cartilage Area Better Classify the Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis?

Investigations of joint loading in knee osteoarthritis (OA) typically normalize the knee adduction moment to global measures of body size (eg, body mass, height) to allow comparison between individuals. However, such measurements may not reflect knee size. This study used a morphometric measurement of the cartilage surface area on the medial tibial plateau, which better represents medial knee size. This study aimed to determine whether normalizing the peak knee adduction moment and knee adduction moment impulse during gait to the medial tibial bone–cartilage interface could classify radiographic knee OA severity more accurately than traditional normalization techniques. Individuals with mild (N = 22) and severe (N = 17) radiographic knee OA participated. The medial tibial bone–cartilage interface was quantified from magnetic resonance imaging scans. Gait analysis was performed, and the peak knee adduction moment and knee adduction moment impulse were calculated in nonnormalized units and normalized to body mass, body weight × height, and the medial tibial bone–cartilage interface. Receiver operating characteristic curves compared the ability of each knee adduction moment normalization technique to classify participants according to radiographic disease severity. No normalization technique was superior at distinguishing between OA severities. Knee adduction moments normalized to medial knee size were not more sensitive to OA severity.

Measuring anteversion in the femoral neck from routine radiographs

Purpose: To describe a new method for measuring femoral neck anteversion (FNA) that requires only one lateral radiograph of the knee in addition to routine radiographs of the hip for evaluation of total hip replacement; and to compare the proposed method with FNA measurement by means of 3D CT. Material and Methods: In 18 femoral specimens, radiographic examinations of the hip and knee, in three different rotational positions, and one CT examination were made, and the measurements of FNA were compared. Similarly, in 38 patients with 40 total hip replacements, measurements from routine radiographic examinations of the hip and knee and from CT examinations were compared. The accuracy and reproducibility of the FNA measurements produced by this proposed method were calculated. Results: Accuracy and reproducibility were 2° and 2° for the proposed method in the femoral specimen study, and accuracy was 4° in the hip patient study. The proposed method had a minor flaw that was caused almost solely by differences in knee size at inward rotation of the femur. Conclusion: FNA measurement can be made from a routine radiographic examination of the hip and a lateral view of the knee. This method achieves an acceptable level of accuracy and reproducibility.