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Does synovialization after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have a positive effect on functional performance, outcomes scores, stability and muscle strength? A 2-year follow-up study after reconstruction

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To investigate the effect of synovialization of graft following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) on functional performance test (FPT) and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Eighty-four male patients who underwent second-look arthroscopy at 2-year follow-up after unilateral ACLR using hamstring autograft were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were categorized by synovial coverage into A group (42 subjects, poor synovial coverage) and B group (42 subjects, good synovial coverage). FPT results, including those of single leg hop test (cm) of the involved limb, co-contraction test (s), shuttle run test (s), and carioca test (s), were compared between groups. Clinical scores, including Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, and Tegner activity score; stability assessments including Lachman test, Pivot-shift test, and side-to-side differences (cm) measured using a KT-2000 arthrometer were also compared between groups.

Results

Based on FPT results, no difference was evident between groups. Single leg hop test results were 144.3 ± 25.5 in A group and 145.4 ± 24.7 in B group (P = 0.849). Co-contraction test results were 17.1 ± 2.9 in A group and 16.9 ± 3.6 in B group (P = 0.827). Shuttle run test results were 9.3 ± 1.9 in A group and 9.3 ± 1.9 in B group (P = 0.935). Carioca test results were 11.4 ± 2.9 in A group and 10.5 ± 2.5 in B group (P = 0.149). Clinical scores and stability assessments did not differ between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Based on functional performance results, well-synovialized grafts did not yield better functional performance outcomes following ACLR compared to poorly synovialized grafts at 2-year follow-up. The same was true of clinical outcomes. Thus, the success of synovialization does not improve functional performance and clinical outcomes following ACL reconstruction in an all-male population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hanil General Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Kyu Sung Chung & Gu Hyun Lee

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medical Center, Sports Medical Research Institute, Seoul Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea

    Jeong Ku Ha

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gangneung Asan Hospital, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Gangneung, Korea

    Ho Jong Ra

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medical Center, Konkuk University Medical Center, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea

    Sang Bum Kim & Jin Goo Kim

Authors
  1. Kyu Sung Chung
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  2. Jeong Ku Ha
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  3. Ho Jong Ra
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  4. Sang Bum Kim
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  5. Gu Hyun Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jin Goo Kim.

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All authors did not receive any financial funding and support.

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All authors have no potential conflict of interest, including financial interests, activities, relationships, and affiliations, to disclose.

Informed consent

The protocol was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Human and animal rights statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Chung, K.S., Ha, J.K., Ra, H.J. et al. Does synovialization after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have a positive effect on functional performance, outcomes scores, stability and muscle strength? A 2-year follow-up study after reconstruction. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 1725–1733 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2808-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2808-6

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