Combined reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament associated with anterolateral tenodesis effectively controls the acceleration of the tibia during the pivot shift.

Abstract

The pivot shift test is quantified subjectively during assessment of patients presenting with suspected Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears and has a low interobserver reproducibility. The Kinematic Rapid Assessment (KiRA) is a triaxial accelerometer that makes it possible to non-invasively quantify tibial acceleration during the pivot shift test. Abolishing pivot shift is considered to be a key element in surgical reconstruction but is incomplete in 25-38% of patients. Patients were included prospectively. Inclusion criteria were patients requiring ACL reconstruction associated with at least one of the following factors corresponding to the patient who have a high risk of rupture either by their sports activity, a failure case, or the notion of important rotational laxity: the patient practiced a competitive pivot-contact sport, revision ACL reconstruction (besides STG (semitendinosus-gracilis graft) repair), subjective explosive rotational laxity, Segond fracture, and TELOS value of >10 mm. Standardized pre- and postoperative pivot shift tests were immediately performed under anesthesia in both knees. Forty-three patients were included. Mean preoperative variations in tibial acceleration in the healthy and injured knees were 1.2 ± 0.1 and 2.7 ± 0.3 m/s², respectively, p < 0.01. A statistically significant decrease in immediate postoperative mean variations in acceleration in the injured knee occurred: 1.5 ± 0.3 m/s², p < 0.01. There was no longer any statistical difference between postoperative contralateral healthy knees and operated knees (n.s). Combined ACL reconstruction associated with anterolateral tenodesis suppress acute pathologic tibial acceleration in the pivot shift. III.