In-vitro Study of Knee Laxity following Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

INTRODUCTION: The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a complex soft tissue structure made up of several bands that play unique roles in the stability and kinematics of the knee. Most attention has been paid to the reconstruction of the anterolateral band, but the results of such reconstructions have been inconsistent1. Controversy exists over what graft tension should be used and at what flexion angle the graft should be tensioned. Also, doublebundle grafts mimicking both the anterolateral and posteromedial bands of the PCL have been proposed for PCL reconstruction, but the effectiveness of these techniques is as yet uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare the anterior/posterior (A/P) joint laxity following three PCL reconstruction techniques: a single, anterolateral, bundle technique, a combined, anterolateral/posteromedial, double bundle technique, and a single, anterolateral, bundle technique in which the joint was reduced in extension and the graft was tensioned in deep flexion. We hypothesized that the latter technique would provide superior restoration of normal neutral position and A/P laxity in comparison to those provided by the other techniques.