All-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with internal brace Ligament Augmentation using semitendinosus tendon autograft: A case series

Abstract

Introduction and Importance: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery is closely linked to the graft healing process, which can extend up to 12 months post-surgery. Recent biomechanical and clinical studies have demonstrated that Internal Brace Ligament Augmentation (IBLA) can protect the graft during the early postoperative period and enhance ACL reconstruction outcomes. This case series evaluates the postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with IBLA using semitendinosus tendon autografts.

Case Presentation: We assessed 37 patients who underwent all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with IBLA using only semitendinosus tendon autografts. Evaluations were conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months post-operation, focusing on patient-reported outcomes and clinical assessments.

Results: The mean Lysholm Knee score at the final follow-up was 94.03 ± 3.65, showing a difference of 34.59 ± 5.52 from the baseline. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) classification revealed 30 cases rated as grade A and 7 as grade B. All patients returned to normal knee function and range of motion, with no instances of re-rupture or severe complications observed.

Clinical Discussion: Early follow-up patient-reported outcomes indicated good to excellent results for the 37 patients. No cases of graft failure or other significant complications were identified. Clinical findings suggest improved knee integrity and range of motion during early recovery, which may facilitate early rehabilitation. However, long-term comparative studies are required for further validation.

Conclusion: IBLA with all-inside ACL reconstructions using only semitendinosus autografts has yielded good to excellent results. Future long-term comparative studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

© 2022 Asia Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society. Published by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license