Objective To evaluate the surgical techniques and effectiveness of arthroscopic treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fracture with non-absorbable suture fixation combined with the mini-plate. Methods Between January 2009 and March 2012, 32 patients with ACL tibial eminence avulsion fractures were treated. There were 18 males and 14 females, aged 12-40 years (mean, 17.5 years). The injury causes included traffic accident injury in 15 cases, sport injury in 6 cases, and falling injury in 11 cases. The time from injury to operation ranged 7-18 days with an average of 9.5 days. Before operation, the results of Lachman test were all positive; the Lysholm score was 52.13 ± 4.22 and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 44.82 ± 2.44. According to Meyers-McKeever classification criteria, there were 12 cases of type II and 20 cases of type III. After arthroscopic poking reduction of fracture, tibial eminence avulsion fractures were fixed with the Ethibond non-absorbable sutures bypass figure-of-eight tibial tunnel combined with the metacarpal and phalangeal mini-plate. Results Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no joint infection or skin necrosis occurred after operation. All patients were followed up with an average time of 22.4 months (range, 12-50 months). The patients showed negative Lachman test at 12 weeks after operation. Except 3 patients having knee extension limitation at last follow-up, the knee extension range of motion (ROM) was normal in the other patients; the knee flexion ROM was normal in all patients. The Lysholm score and IKDC score were significantly improved to 94.19 ± 0.93 and 94.35 ± 1.22 at last follow-up, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative values (t=55.080, P=0.000; t=101.715, P=0.000). Conclusion The arthroscopic treatment of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture with Ethibond non-absorbable suture fixation combined with mini-plate is an effective procedure with the advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, and satisfactory recovery of the knee joint function.
Objective To investigate the outcomes of arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation of tibial eminence avulsion fracture using absorbable double suture anchors. Methods Between February 2007 and August 2009, 18 patients with tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated with arthroscopic reduction and fixation using absorbable doublensuture anchors. There were 12 males and 6 females with an average age of 30.6 years (range, 17-48 years). The disease causes were traffic accident injury in 4 cases, sport injury in 8 cases, and fall ing from height injury in 6 cases; the locations were left side in 7 cases and right side in 11 cases. The results of the anterior drawer test and Lachman test were positive. According to Meyers-McKeever classification, 10 cases were rated as type II, 7 as type III, and 1 as type IV fractures. The time from injury to treatment was 6-20 days (mean, 10.2 days). Results Incision healed primarily. All the patients were followed up 29.1 months (range, 13-43 months). The X-ray films showed good reduction of fracture immediately after operation and fracture heal ing at 3 months. At the last follow-up, the range of motion of knee was 0-130°. The results of Lachman test and anterior drawer test were negative in 18 cases and 16 cases, repectively; and the results of anterior drawer test were weakly positive in 2 cases. The mean Lysholm score was significantly improved from 53.9 ± 6.7 preoperatively to 91.6 ± 4.2 postoperatively (t=22.100, P=0.000). The Inter national knee Documentation Commitee (IKDC) 2000 subject score improved from 58.1 ± 3.7 preoperatively to 92.8 ± 5.9 postoperatively (t=20.700, P=0.000). Conclusion Arthroscopic treatment using absorbable double suture anchors for tibial eminence avulsion fracture can provide satisfactory reduction, stable fixation, and good heal ing of the avulsed fragment, which is a minimally-invasive, simple, and effective treatment for patients with tibial eminence avulsion fracture.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopic screw and suture fixations in treatment of anterior cruciate ligament tibial eminence avulsion fractures. Methods Between January 2002 and January 2009, 43 patients with freshanterior cruciate ligament tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated, which were rated as types II and III according to Meyers- McKeever-Zaricznyj classification. Fractures were fixed with either screw (screw group, n=21) or nonabsorbable suture (suture group, n=22). There was no significant difference in sex, age, disease duration, and fracture type between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The range of motion (ROM) and Lysholm score were compared between 2 groups, and the knee stabil ity was evaluated based on the Lachman test and KT-2000 measurement. Results The operation time was 48-60 minutes (mean, 51.6 minutes) in the screw group, and 55-68 minutes (mean, 63.2 minutes) in the suture group, showing significant difference (t=4.645, P=0.032). Incisions healed by first intention and no compl ication occurred in 2 groups. All patients were followed up (5.7 ± 0.6) years in the screw group and (5.3 ± 0.5) years in the suture group. The fracture healed completely in both groups; the heal ing time was (3.3 ± 0.6) months in the screw group and (3.2 ± 0.4) months in the suture group, showing significant difference (t=3.723, P=0.019). Between the screw group and the suture group, no significant difference was found in ROM [(128.6 ± 10.1)° vs. (130.2 ± 14.1)°, P gt; 0.05] and Lysholm score (94.6 ± 14.5 vs. 95.1 ± 17.2, P gt; 0.05). The stabil ities based on KT-2000 measurement were also similar between 2 groups at last follow-up [(0.9 ± 0.3) mm vs. (1.0 ± 0.4) mm, P gt; 0.05]. Lachman test of 2 groups were negative. Conclusion Boththe screw and nonabsorbable suture fixation techniques for anterior cruciate l igament tibial eminence avulsion fracture (type II or III) have good results in terms of functional outcome and stabil ity. However, some patients show flexion contractures of 5° or 10°.
ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical technique and effectiveness of arthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fractures. MethodsBetween June 2012 and October 2014, 16 cases of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated with ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation under arthroscopy. There were 10 males and 6 females, aged from 17 to 38 years (mean, 25.8 years). The left knee was involved in 5 cases and the right knee in 11 cases. The causes were traffic accident injury in 9 cases, falling from height injury in 4 cases, and sports injury in 3 cases. The average interval from injury to operation was 7 days (range, 5-10 days) except 1 patient who received operation at 6 weeks after injury. The knee joint swelling was obvious; the result of Lachman test was positive; and the knee joint Lysholm score was 45.38±9.87. According to classification standard introduced by Meyers-McKeever-Zaricznyj, 7 cases were rated as type Ⅱ, 8 cases as type Ⅲ, and 1 case as type Ⅳ, excluding ligament and meniscus injury. ResultsAll the incisions healed by first intention. The patients received follow-up of 6-18 months (mean, 10 months). The postoperative X-ray and CT showed anatomic reduction (12 cases) or near anatomic reduction (4 cases); all fractures healed at 6 months after operation. The result of Lachman test was negative in the other 15 patients except 1 patient (Ⅱ degree). One patient had slight knee pain at 6 months postoperatively, and pain symptom disappeared after 1 year; the other cases resumed daily activities. Lysholm score at last follow-up was 98.13±2.34, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=-20.801, P=0.000). ConclusionArthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation for ACL tibial eminence avulsion fractures is an effective procedure with the advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, satisfactory functional recovery, and simultaneously avoiding the second surgery.
ObjectiveTo study the biomechanical stability of neckwear-knot-loop-ligature fixation for tibial eminence avulsion fractures by comparing with cannulated screw fixation and suture anchor fixation. MethodsTwenty-four fresh porcine knee joints were selected. After the model of tibial eminence avulsion fracture (type Ⅲ) was made, 24 samples were randomly divided into 3 groups: neckwear-knot-loop-ligature group (group A), cannulated screw group (group B), and suture anchor group (group C), 8 samples in each group. The Universal electromagnetic and mechanical testing machines were used for the biomechanical tests. After 200 cyclic tests, pull-out test was done until fixation failure. The maximum failure load, yield load, stiffness, and displacement were measured. ResultsFailure mode: the displacement was beyond limit in 8 samples of group A; screws extraction (5 samples) and bone fragment re-fracture (3 samples) were observed in group B; and suture anchor extraction (4 samples), suture rupture (3 samples), and suture thread cutting (1 sample) were found in group C. Biomechanical test: From groups A to C, the maximum failure load and yield load showed significant decreasing tendency (P<0.05), but the displacements showed significant increasing tendency (P<0.05). The stiffness also gradually decreased, but differences was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionCompared with cannulated screw and suture anchor, neckwear-knot-loop-ligature fixation for tibial eminence avulsion fracture has good biomechanical performance and the advantages of firm fixation and simple operation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of arthroscopically assisted treatment of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tibial eminence avulsion fractures associated with meniscus posterior horn tear. MethodsBetween January 2012 and December 2014, 21 patients with PCL avulsion fracture and meniscus posterior horn tear were arthroscopically treated with polyester suture and hollow screw fixation. There were 10 males (10 knees) and 11 females (11 knees), aged 14-53 years (mean, 35.7 years). The causes included sport injury in 11 cases, traffic accident injury in 9 cases, and daily life injury in 1 case. Based on the anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films, CT, and MRI, PCL avulsion fractures were diagnosed, and 2 cases had anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures. The results of posterior drawer test were positive in all patients, with no end point in 14 cases and with soft end point in 7 cases; all patients showed tibial sink. The preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and Lysholm score were 46.5±5.5 and 43.3±4.5 respectively. The time from injury to operation was 6-22 days (mean, 10 days). ResultsThe operation time was 60-100 minutes (mean, 75 minutes). Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients, without no complication of infection. The mean follow-up time was 27.4 months (range, 12-46 months). The results of posterior drawer test were negative in 19 cases, and positive in 2 cases (having hard end point). Tibial sink disappeared. At last follow-up, X-ray film showed good healing of fracture, and no displacement. The patients had no locking knee, snapping or tenderness of joint space, and the Mcmurray sign was negative; the IKDC score and Lysholm score were significantly improved to 92.0±2.5 and 92.7±2.6 respectively (t=-39.903, P=0.000; t=-43.242, P=0.000). The range of motion was normal in 20 patients (0-130°) except 1 patient having limited flexion (0-80°), whose range of motion returned to 0-120° after release. ConclusionThe arthroscopic fixation technique has satisfactory results for the reduction and fixation of PCL avulsion fracture associated with meniscus posterior horn tear because of easy operation, firm fixation, and economic price.