Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Combined with High-Tibial Osteotomy, Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Microfracture, Osteochondral, and/or Meniscal Allograft Transplantation


Introduction

Knees with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears often have degenerative changes. If these changes are severe, cartilage restorative procedures may be necessary in addition to ACL reconstruction (ACLR). The question in such cases is whether to perform the restorative procedures simultaneously with the ACLR. If they are not done simultaneously, the question becomes one of proper sequencing and the necessary time interval between procedures.

Individualization

Cases requiring combined procedures are inherently complicated. Some patients will need ACLR plus one other restorative procedure, but some patients may need a total of three or four such procedures. Decision making can be helped by the application of certain principles, which will be discussed later. However, each patient’s individual characteristics should be carefully studied and weighed in decision making. The patient’s pathology is most important, but work and life circumstances must be carefully considered to avoid disruption to the extent possible.

Surgeon Factors

The surgeon must also realistically weigh his or her own skill and experience. When in doubt, it is better to sequence procedures than to perform difficult procedures simultaneously, with which the surgeon may have limited experience. Patients generally prefer simultaneity, but this should not be done if it will subject the patient to greater risk of failure.

Success Rates

In the literature and in our experience, success rates with appropriate combined procedures have been high. Table 102.1 summarizes the relevant literature. Surgery and aftercare must be meticulous. Reimbursement may not be commensurate with the amount of work performed. Not all surgeons will wish to perform these types of procedures. However, if the procedures are satisfactorily performed, and if the patients are carefully chosen, the results can be gratifying.

TABLE 102.1
Success Rates for Combined Procedures
Authors Year Success Rate
ACLR With Microfracture
Gudas et al. 2013 28/32 (88%) patients had normal or nearly normal IKDC scores at 3 years
Osti et al. 2010 23/25 (92%) patients had normal or nearly normal IKDC scores at 2 years and 72% at 5 years
ACLR With ACI
Amin et al. 2006 7/9 patients improved; 2/9 described no improvement
Dhinsa et al. 2015 16 out of 22 patients reported improved symptoms
ACLR With MAT
Cameron and Saha 1997 80% (4/5) of patients who had ACLR + MAT had good to excellent results; 86% (6/7) of those who had ACLR, MAT, and HTO had good to excellent results
Graf et al. 2004 2/8 patients had normal, 5/8 had nearly normal, and 1 had abnormal scores on the IKDC symptom scale. 6/8 were pleased with the outcome. Improved swelling, pain, stability, and knee function
Rueff et al. 2006 IKDC improved 36 points on average postoperatively; 87% (7/8) considered surgery a success
Sekiya et al. 2003 86% patients normal or nearly normal on IKDC
Wirth et al. 2002 Recorded substantial improvement in both Lysholm and Tegner scores
Yoldas et al. 2003 19/20 patients reported normal or nearly normal scores on IKDC
ACLR With OATS
Gudas et al. 2013 29/33 (88%) patients had normal or nearly normal IKDC scores at 3 years
Bobic 1996 10/12 patients promised a response at 2-year follow-up
Klinger et al. 2003 81% normal or nearly normal scores on IKDC
ACLR With HTO
Bonin et al. 2004 At 12 years, 5/30 (17%) patients progressed one arthritis grade, 47% returned to intensive sports, and 37% returned to moderate sports
Lattermann and Jakob 1996 3/8 patients had pain even with light activity
Neuschwander et al. 1993 4/5 patients had good or excellent results; one had fair
Noyes et al. 1993 94% of patients reported significant improvement
Noyes et al. 2000 Pain was reduced in 71% of knees; 71% of patients reported their knees as very good/normal or good
Schuster et al. 2016 In 23 patients, IKDC scores improved from preoperatively to 1 year, to 3 years, to 5 years
Stutz et al. 1996 8/13 patients had normal or nearly normal subjective IKDC scores
Trojani et al. 2014 23/29 patients resumed sports, with 45% competitive sports; 70% had normal or nearly normal IKDC scores
Williams et al. 2003 Found statistically significant increases in Lysholm, HSS, Tegner score; 92% of patients were satisfied
Zaffagnini et al. 2013 32 patients, all scores significantly improved; two failures
ACI , Autologous chondrocyte implantation; ACLR , anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; HSS , Hospital for Special Surgery; HTO , high-tibial osteotomy; IKDC , International Knee Documentation Committee; MAT , meniscal allograft transplantation; OATS , osteochondral autograft transfer system.

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