Technique ACL PCL and MCL

Options for MCL

 

Repair

Reconstruction

 

Femoral repair of MCL

 

MCL femoral fix 1MCL Femoral fixation 2MCL Femoral fixation 3

 

Tibial repair of MCL

 

MCL tibial fixation 1MCL tibial fixation

 

MCL Reconstruction options

 

1.  Single graft PCL / MCL reconstruction

 

Single femoral tunnel

- intra-articular - PCL femoral insertion

- extra-articular: exits at medial femoral condyle

 

Bonadio et al. KSSTA 2017

 

Wahl and Nicandri Arthroscopy 2008

 

2. MCL tendoachilles reconstruction (single bundle anatomic)

 

Medial approach to femur

- divide retinaculum

- elevate VMO

 

Femoral tunnel

- identify adductor tubercle with insertion of adductor magnus

- insertion of superficial MCL is 12 mm distal and 8 mm anterior to adductor tubercle

- insertion of superficial MCL is just proximal and posterior to the medial epicondyle

- xray: the intersection of the posterior femoral cortex and blumenstaat's line

 

Tibial attachment

- 6 cm below joint line

- posteromedial tibia

- posterior to pes anserinus attachment

 

Marx technique MCL reconstruction with tendoachilles allograft PDF

 

Marx technique MCL reconstruction with tendoachilles allograft Vumedi

 

3.  Hamstring allograft reconstruction (single or double bundle anatomic)

 

Issues

 

Avoiding femoral tunnel convergence of MCL with PCL

- aim femoral MCL tunnel 40o anterior and 40o proximal

 

 

Technique ACL (hamstring autograft), PCL (tendoachilles allograft) and MCL (tendoachilles allograft) reconstruction

 

Vumedi video

 

Laprade ACL / PCL / MCL surgical technique PDF

 

ACL / PCL

 

Graft Preparation

 

Achilles Allograft InitiallyAchilles Allograft Final

 

1. Achilles allograft for PCL

- generally split graft into two

- 9 mm wide x 20 mm long bone block (for 10 x 25 femoral drill hole)

- 2 x drill holes with 2 x high strength suture

- tubularise distal end of tendon and leave long sutures

- ensure passes easily through 9 mm tunnel

 

2. Achilles Allograft for MCL

- split the achilles allograft

- 8 mm wide x 20 mm long bone block (for 9 x 25 femoral drill hole)

- 2 x drill holes with 2 x high strength suture

- don't tubularise or whipstitch the tendon end

 

3. Harvest and prepare hamstring tendons

- medial incision

- ACL and PCL tibial tunnels will pass through this incision

- will also secure tibial sided MCL reconstruction in this incision (most posteriorly)

- place over endobutteon

- size as normal

 

Arthroscopy

 

Debridement of notch

 

Place posteromedial cannula

- most common mistake is placing cannula too anterior / inferior

- need to be able to instrument PCL origin

- also allows direct visualisation with camera

 

Assess / treat meniscus

 

PCL Tibial Tunnel

 

PCL facetPCL tibial tunnel

 

Change to 70o scope

- under vision clear PCL facet

- release posterior capsule from bone (visualise popliteus muscle)

- release posterior speptum (attaches to PCL, and divides knee into posteromedial and posterolateral)

- PCL guide 65o angle

- tibial guide placed just lateral to crest to ensure room for more medial ACL tunnel

- place on posterior facet, slightly lateral

- check on fluoroscopy on PCL facet

- protect guide wire with curette or switching stick via PM cannula

- carefully ream 10 mm tunnel

- clear tunnel entrance of debris

 

PCL femoral tunnel

 

PCL femoral tunnel 1PCL femoral tunnel 2PCL femoral tunnel 3

 

Open incison medial knee

- elevate VMO

- use PCL jig and place in centre of anterolateral bundle

- ensure sufficient distance from anterior articular cartilage

- also ensure sufficient distal from the MCL tunnel (just posterior and proximal to medial epicondyle)

- drill 10 mm tunnel for achilles bone block from outside-in or inside-out

 

ACL

 

Drill appropriate size tibial and femoral tunnel

- hamstring tendon technique

- set jig to 550 to miss PCL tunnel

- ensure is in more medial aspect of the tibial tunnel

 

PCL graft passage

 

Option 1

- pass from outside in

- suture up tibial tunnel, and up femoral tunnel

- pass graft tendon first from femoral tunnel

- secure outside in with 7 or 8 mm metal screw

 

Option 2

- pass PCL graft through small lateral parapatella approach (enlarge portal)

- looped suture up tibial tunnel and out anterolateral portal

- looped suture down femoral tunnel and out anterolateral portal

- pass graft into knee

- tendon passes down tibial tunnel

- manipulate bone plug into femoral tunnel

- secure femoral side inside out with 7 or 8 mm metal screw

 

PCL Allograft Tibial endPCL Allograft tibial component into knee

 

ACL graft passage

 

As per normal technique

- flip endobutton

- don't secure tibial end

 

ACL PCL reconstructionACL PCL reconstruction

 

MCL Reconstruction

 

Femoral side

- use previous proximal medial incision

- identify PCL femoral tunnel

 

MCL insertion

- identify adductor tubercle (insertion point of adductor magnus tendon)

- medial epicondyle is 12 mm distal and 8 mm anterior to adductor magnus

- insertion point of MCL is 4 mm proximal and 4 mm posterior to medial epicondyle

- can use xray (intersection of the posterior femoral cortex and blumenstaat's line)

 

MCL Isometric Point

 

Drill MCL femoral tunnel

- 9 x 25 mm

- aim 40o anterior and 40o proximal to avoid PCL tunnel convergence

- insert bony plug and fix with a 7 x 20 mm metal screw

 

MCL tibial fixation

- use instruments to make passage for tendon end of achilles allograft

- fixation point is 6 - 7 mm below tibial joint line

- use a 4.5 mm cortical screw from large fragment set

- use a spiked soft tissue washer from the large fragment set

- can place soft tissue anchors on proximal tibia for two point fixation

 

Tibial sided graft fixation

 

1.  PCL - 90o

2.  ACL - 30o

3.  MCL - 30o with varus force and foot in neutral

 

PCL

- 90o

- pull tibia forward

- tension graft +++

- because the tunnel on the tiba is very anterior, bone is very hard

- line to line screw, may need to downsize

- 8 x 35 screw (longer as tunnel is longer)

- have anterior draw on tibia and foot IR

- secure with post / staple

 

PLC Tension PCL 90 Degrees

 

Post operative rehabilitation

 

NWB for 6 weeks

ROM to 90o

Hinge brace for 6 weeks

Consider PCL brace

After 6 weeks full ROM and FWB

Consider hinge brace for 3 months

No sport for 1 year due to allografts