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Minimally invasive open reduction and fixation of avulsed tibial insertion of posterior cruciate ligament

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Abstract

Background

Surgical treatment of bony avulsions of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) through a classic posterior approach carries a high risk of neurovascular compromise, and arthroscopic techniques are demanding. The purpose of this study is to report results of safe, minimal invasive surgical approach using pull-out suture fixation technique.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective study of 16 cases with avulsion of the posterior tibial spine, managed through minimally invasive posterior approach and fixed by pull out suture. All patients were males, of mean age 34.5 ± 5.5 years. Average follow-up period was 18 ± 4 months.

Results

The average operative time was 32 ± 3.75 min. X-rays showed satisfactory reduction and good bone healing in all cases at 3 months. Functional results were excellent in 13 patients, and near normal International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score in the remaining 3 patients. Average Lysholm score was 95.2 ± 2.3, with no complications related to approach or fixation technique.

Conclusions

The presented minimally invasive posterior knee approach is easy and safe with adequate exposure of PCL avulsion fracture. Fixation technique by pull-out sutures is a reliable method of fixation of this kind of fractures that avoids the complications of metal hardware and subsequent need for removal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedic Department, Benha University, El-Shaheed Farid Nada street, 13511, Benha, Qalyubia, Egypt

    Mohamed Salah Singer & Abdelsamie M. Halawa

Authors
  1. Mohamed Salah Singer
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  2. Abdelsamie M. Halawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Salah Singer.

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Conflict of interest

Both authors have no conflict of interest to disclose and did not receive any fund or research grants.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by ethical committee of Banha University and was in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

All patients signed an informed consent after clear explanation of the surgical procedure.

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None

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Singer, M.S., Halawa, A.M. Minimally invasive open reduction and fixation of avulsed tibial insertion of posterior cruciate ligament. Eur Orthop Traumatol 6, 357–361 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-015-0332-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-015-0332-0

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