Double-Bundle Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in 100 Patients at a Mean 3 Years’ Follow-up: Outcomes Were Comparable to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions

Abstract

Background:

Historically, outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstructions have been less predictable and reported to yield inferior results when compared with those for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions.

Purpose:

To report on the outcomes of double-bundle PCL reconstructions (DB PCLRs) in isolated versus combined injuries and acute versus chronic PCL reconstructions. To compare the outcomes of isolated DB PCLR with isolated ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

All patients who underwent a primary endoscopic DB PCLR for complete PCL tears (grade III) between May 2010 and March 2015 were reviewed. Patient-reported outcome scores (Tegner, Lysholm, WOMAC [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index], SF-12 [12-item Short Form Health Survey]) and objective posterior stress radiographs were collected preoperatively and at a minimum 2 years postoperatively. A cohort subanalysis was additionally performed between isolated and combined PCL reconstruction and acute versus chronic PCL reconstruction. Patients who underwent isolated ACL reconstructions over the same inclusion period (2010-2015) were selected as a comparison group.

Results:

One hundred patients who underwent DB PCLR were included in this study. There were 31 isolated PCL injuries, and 69 patients had concurrent combined PCL injuries requiring surgery. The mean follow-up for the PCL cohort was 2.9 years (range, 2-6 years). The median Tegner activity score improved from 2 to 5, Lysholm from 48 to 86, WOMAC from 35.5 to 5, and SF-12 Physical Component Summary from 34 to 54.8 (all P values <.001). The mean side-to-side difference in posterior tibial translation on kneeling stress radiographs improved from 11.0 ± 3.5 mm preoperatively to 1.6 ± 2.0 mm postoperatively (P < .001). There were no differences in postoperative functional scores between isolated PCL reconstructions and PCL-based multiligament reconstructions (all P values >.229). There was no significant difference in the reported outcome scores between acute and chronic reconstructions (all P values >.087) except for Tegner scores (P < .001) and patient satisfaction (P = .011) favoring acutely treated PCL injuries. There were no significant differences between patients who had an isolated DB PCLR and patients who underwent an isolated ACL reconstruction (n = 141) in postoperative outcome scores (all P values >.064).

Conclusion:

Significantly improved functional and objective outcomes were observed after anatomic DB PCLR at a mean 3 years’ follow-up, with low complication rates, regardless of concomitant ligamentous injury or timing to surgery. Additionally, contrary to previous reports, comparable subjective and functional clinical outcomes were achieved compared with an isolated ACL reconstruction control cohort.