A FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF KNEE JOINT AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

ARTHROSCOPIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

    Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common ligamentous injury of knee joint. Graft selection for ACL is a controversial subject. Despite of clinical outcomes with Patellar tendon bone graft (PTB), donor site morbidity and patellar fractures are of great concern with this technique. Peroneus Longus tendon is an alternative technique with promising results. It has greater tensile strength as compared to Patellar tendon (PTB) and quadriceps tendon graft and has a potential with minimal or no donor site morbidity.

METHODS:

After approval from Ethical Review Board of Jinnah hospital Lahore affiliated with Allama Iqbal  medical college, this prospective observational study was carried out at Department of Orthopedic Surgery Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from Aug 2024 to Dec 2025. A total number of 24 patients with age between 20-60 years having isolated ACL tear were enrolled in the study after clinical and MRI evaluation. All patients underwent ACL reconstruction with double bundle Peroneus Longus tendon graft. We assessed the knee function preoperatively & postoperatively with Tegner-Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC Score) score. Similarly, ankle joint functional status was assessed with American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle society score (AOFAS) and foot and ankle disability index (FADI) Score preoperatively and postoperatively after 03 months,06 months and at the end of final follow up of one year after the surgery.

RESULTS:

                There was a significant difference between preoperative and post-operative IKDC and Tegner-Lysholm score after ACL reconstruction with Peroneus Longus tendon graft. There was also no donor site morbidity and AOFAS Score and FADI Score were almost equal at the ankle joint preoperatively and postoperatively.

CONCLUSION:

          Peroneus Longus tendon is most advantageous for ACL reconstruction in terms of graft harvesting technique, large graft diameter, adequate graft length and lower rate of complication at the donor site. Moreover, ankle function is not deteriorated if proper graft harvesting technique is used. It has a greater tensile strength with minimal or no donor site morbidity.