[EFFECTIVENESS OF ARTHROSCOPIC ULTRA-Braid SUTURE PLANE FIXATION FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TIBIAL EMINENCE AVULSION FRACTURES].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical technique and effectiveness of arthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fractures.

METHODS: Between June 2012 and October 2014, 16 cases of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated with ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation under arthroscopy. There werg 10 males and 6 females, aged from 17 to 38 years (mean, 25.8 years). The left knee was involved in 5 cases and the right knee in 11 cases. The causes were traffic accident injury in 9 cases, falling from height injury in 4 cases, and sports injury in 3 cases. The average interval from injury to operation was 7 days (range, 5-10 days) except 1 patient who received operation at 6 weeks after injury. The knee joint swelling was obvious; the result of Lachman test was positive; and the knee joint Lysholm score was 45.38 ± 9.87. According to classification standard introduced by Meyers-McKeever-Zaricnyj, 7 cases were rated as type II, 8 cases as type III, and 1 case as type IV, excluding ligament and meniscus injury.

RESULTS: All the incisions healed by first intention. The patients received follow-up of 6-18 months (mean, 10 months). The postoperative X-ray and CT showed anatomic reduction (12 cases) or near anatomic reduction (4 cases); all fractures healed at 6 months after operation. The result of Lachman test was negative in the other 15 patients except 1 patient (II degree). One patient had slight knee pain at 6 months postoperatively, and pain symptom disappeared after 1 year; the other cases resumed daily activities. Lysholm score at last follow-up was 98.13 ± 2.34, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t = -20.801, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation for ACL tibial eminence avulsion fractures is an effective procedure with the advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, satisfactory functional recovery, and simultaneously avoiding the second surgery.