Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It is controversial that single-bundle and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with conservative treatment of medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the treatment of combined injuries of the ACL and MCL.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the biomechanical difference of single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstruction in the MCL-deficient knee.
METHODS: Totally 16 adult pig knees were randomly divided into two groups. The ACL and MCL of the knee was transected, single-bundle ACL reconstruction was performed in one group, and double-bundle ACL reconstruction in another group. The anterior tibial translation (ATT), internal rotation (IR) and external rotaion (ER) of the tibia were measured with Robot in states of intact knee, ACL and MCL transected, single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstruction at different knee flexion.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the intact knee, ATT, IR and ER were significantly increased in the ACL and MCL transected knee. After the ACL reconstruction in the MCL-deficient knee, ATT, IR and ER were significantly restored, and double-bundle ACL reconstruction was superior to single-bundle ACL reconstruction in restoring ER of the tibia. These findings indicate that double-bundle ACL reconstruction is superior to single-bundle ACL reconstruction at restoration of tibial ER stability in the MCL-deficient knee with redard to treatment of combined injuries of the ACL and MCL.