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Prospective analysis using a patient-based health-related scale shows lower functional scores after posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions as compared with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions of the knee

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the treatment outcome of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), a patient-based quality of life (QOL) questionnaire comparing it with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods

Patients who underwent reconstruction at our center for PCL (n = 24) or ACL (n = 197) injury were studied. The patients were evaluated using SF-36, visual analogue scale (VAS) for knee pain, Lysholm scale, posterior or anterior tibial translation and range of motion (ROM) before surgery until 24 months after surgery. Results were compared.

Results

In the ACL group, all evaluation methods showed significant improvement after surgery. In the PCL group, however, improvement was observed in only three of eight subscales of the SF-36, Lysholm score and posterior tibial translation after surgery. In intergroup comparison, the PCL group showed inferior performance in three subscales of the SF-36, Lysholm score and ROM for flexion compared with the ACL group.

Conclusions

The surgical outcome of PCL reconstruction was inferior to that of ACL reconstruction both in patient-based and conventional doctor-based assessments. An improved surgical technique for PCL is required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sports Medicine and Knee Center, National Hospital Organization, Kofu National Hospital, 11-35 Tenjin-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8533, Japan

    Satoshi Ochiai, Tetsuo Hagino, Shinya Senga & Takashi Yamashita

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan

    Takashi Ando & Hirotaka Haro

Authors
  1. Satoshi Ochiai
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  2. Tetsuo Hagino
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  3. Shinya Senga
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  4. Takashi Yamashita
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  5. Takashi Ando
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Correspondence to Satoshi Ochiai.

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Ochiai, S., Hagino, T., Senga, S. et al. Prospective analysis using a patient-based health-related scale shows lower functional scores after posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions as compared with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions of the knee. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 40, 1891–1898 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-016-3189-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-016-3189-0

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