Outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion treated with staple fixation: stress TELOS X-ray evaluation

Abstract

Purpose: Tibial-side avulsion injuries of the posterior cruciate ligament are rare injuries. In displaced fracture, the reduction and fixation is the treatment of choice, although the optimal surgical management has not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, functional, and radiological outcome after an open reduction and internal fixation with staples of a posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion. Methods: A historical cohort of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with staple due to a posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion were reviewed. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Demographic, clinical, and radiological data, including stress X-ray, were analyzed. Also, International Knee Documentation Committee Score, Tegner Knee Score, Lysholm Knee Score, Short-Form Health Survey, and four-point Likert scale were evaluated. Results: Four males (57%) and 3 females (43%) were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 39 years (range 27–54). All patients had a fracture union. No implant migration was observed. Postoperative posterior drawer, reverse pivot shift, and varus/valgus stress were negative. In stress TELOS X-ray, no statistically significant differences were observed between the postoperative and contralateral knee. All evaluated scores had good or excellent results. Conclusions: Our study provides further evidence that the use of an open reduction and internal fixation with a staple could be a simple and reliable management for posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures of the tibia. In our study, the postoperative stress TELOS X-ray analyze showed a correct fixation and biomechanical function of the posterior cruciate ligament.