Knee pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: evaluation of a rehabilitation protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior knee pain (AKP) is a rare and difficult complication following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This disabling pain is persistent with conventional rehabilitation protocols. The aim of this work is to validate a new rehabilitation protocol that may improve the patients and allow return to daily activities including sports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients identified with functional AKP after ACL reconstruction was enrolled in the rehabilitation protocol between 2009 and 2011. The series included twenty-six patients with hamstring grafting and seventeen patients with patellar tendon transplant. This study compares the functional outcomes and pain scores before and after the isokinetic protocol until the last follow-up at an average of 25.7 months after surgery. The evaluation was performed according to the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and included a pain assessment using the visual analog scale. Statistical analysis used Student's t-test for unpaired data and the Pearson correlation test for the variables. The IKDC scores were compared by the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Functional outcomes and pain are significantly improved (p<0.0001). The average IKDC score improved with 28 points and the pain improved with 3.2 points on the visual analog scale (VAS). The results are correlated with the follow-up time (p=0.008) but not correlated with the delay between the surgery and the beginning of the isokinetic protocol. DISCUSSION: Isokinetic rehabilitation provides a significant improvement in the knee function as measured by the IKDC score and by the VAS, regardless of the painful period preceding the program. The function improvement continues after the end of the protocol, but the pain may not completely disappear. The isokinetic rehabilitation program may resume functional AKP related to muscular deficit and may be used as the starter of other physical therapy protocols. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Isolated posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: is non-aggressive rehabilitation the right protocol?

INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction Surgery of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) has not yet been fully standardized, and associated rehabilitation protocols have not been clearly defined. The aim of this study is to report the results of a consecutive series of patients who underwent the same surgical technique for isolated PCL reconstruction and were submitted to the same specific rehabilitation protocol. A non-aggressive rehabilitation protocol which protects the graft from excess mechanical stress produces satisfying and reproducible clinical and laxity results in the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our series included 17 patients who underwent single bundle arthroscopic reconstruction of the PCL with an autologous quadriceps tendon graft and who followed the same non-aggressive rehabilitation protocol. All patients were followed up for an average of 30 months (range 12-60 months). The preoperative evaluation and the last follow-up included objective and subjective IKDC scores as well as the Tegner & Lysholm knee scales. The side to side laxity was measured radiologically with the Telos stress testing device. A statistical analysis was performed to compare preoperative and postoperative results. RESULTS: Preoperatively, no patients were classified as A or B on the IKDC objective score. At last follow-up visit, 88.2% of patients were classified as A or B. Average side to side anteroposterior laxity was 11.9 mm (range 8-18) in the preoperative evaluation and 3.8mm (range 1-7) in the final follow-up (p=0.01) The average subjective IKDC score was 37.7 before surgery and 74.7 at last follow-up (p< 0.01). The Tegner & Lysholm scores were significantly improved by surgery. DISCUSSION: Although the results are still less successful than ACL reconstruction, successful PCL reconstruction results were obtained with a standardized single bundle reconstruction technique and an adapted specific postoperative rehabilitation protocol. A non-aggressive rehabilitation protocol can limit postoperative mechanical stress on the graft. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective Level IV.