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The Clinical Efficacy of Anterolateral Complex Augmentation in Patients With ACL Rupture Combined With Excessive Internal Tibial Rotation Subluxation: A Bidirectional Cohort Study

Conditions
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Registration Number
NCT06961292
Lead Sponsor
Peking University Third Hospital
Brief Summary

This project aims to establish a high-quality, large-scale, single-center bidirectional cohort study to evaluate the postoperative clinical efficacy of ACLR combined with ALC augmentation in a specific high-risk population-patients with ACL rupture exhibiting excessive internal tibial rotation subluxation (EIRTS) on preoperative MRI. The study population will consist of patients with primary ACL rupture, and high-risk individuals will be identified based on the presence of EIRTS on preoperative knee MRI. The exposure group will undergo ACLR combined with ALC augmentation, while the control group will receive standard ACLR. Observational indicators will include all baseline patient characteristics and postoperative clinical outcomes.

Detailed Description

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most common sports injuries in the field of sports medicine and significantly impairs athletic function. Autologous hamstring tendon single-bundle ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is the standard surgical technique for treating ACL rupture. Although most patients can return to sports postoperatively, a subset still experiences graft re-rupture, residual rotational instability of the knee, and other cases of reconstruction failure. Recent studies suggest that concomitant injury to the anterolateral complex (ALC) of the knee may be an important contributing factor. However, there is currently a lack of clinical evidence regarding the diagnosis of ALC injuries and the surgical indications for their treatment. Therefore, whether ALC should be augmented (diagnostic and surgical indications) in addition to routine ACLR, and how it should be augmented (surgical techniques), has become a key focus of current research.

This project aims to establish a high-quality, large-scale, single-center bidirectional cohort study to evaluate the postoperative clinical efficacy of ACLR combined with ALC augmentation in a specific high-risk population-patients with ACL rupture exhibiting excessive internal tibial rotation subluxation (EIRTS) on preoperative MRI. The study population will consist of patients with primary ACL rupture, and high-risk individuals will be identified based on the presence of EIRTS on preoperative knee MRI. The exposure group will undergo ACLR combined with ALC augmentation, while the control group will receive standard ACLR. Observational indicators will include all baseline patient characteristics and postoperative clinical outcomes.

The study includes two follow-up time points: 2 years and 5 years postoperatively. Follow-up will be conducted via outpatient visits and telephone interviews. Based on the follow-up outcomes, multivariate regression models will be used to analyze the association between exposure and clinical outcomes.

This cohort study aims to address treatment strategies for high-risk ACL rupture patients with preoperative EIRTS, thereby improving perioperative management and clinical decision-making in ACL injuries. It will provide important clinical evidence for establishing surgical indications for ALC augmentation and contribute to the development of long-term clinical prediction models for graft failure after ACLR. The findings will support innovation in ACL reconstruction techniques, optimization of perioperative strategies, reduction in postoperative graft failure rates, and improvement in return-to-sport rates. This study holds significant implications for advancing clinical research in the field of sports medicine.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
335
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 years; Primary unilateral ACL rupture; Preoperative knee MRI completed at our institution; Diagnosis of excessive internal tibial rotation subluxation (EIRTS) based on preoperative MRI measurements (i.e., internal rotation tibial subluxation [IRTS] > 5.8 mm); Patient has been informed of the study details and has provided written informed consent to participate in this cohort study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Concomitant injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL); History of contralateral knee injury; History of patellar dislocation; History of prior knee surgery.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Graft Failure RateAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

Graft failure was identified based on physical examination findings and postoperative MRI scans at the designated follow-up time points.

Return to Pivoting Sports: Rate and TimeAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

The rate and timing of return to pivoting sports were recorded at each follow-up time point.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Patient-Reported Outcome MeasuresAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected at each follow-up time point using standardized questionnaires, including the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS), Tegner Activity Score, modified Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form.

Physical ExaminationsAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

Physical examinations were performed at each follow-up visit, including the anterior drawer test, Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and KT-2000 arthrometer assessment.

Muscle StrengthAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

Isokinetic muscle strength testing of the knee extensors and flexors was performed using the Biodex system.

MRI MeasurementsAt 2 and 5 years postoperatively

Postoperative MRI scans were scheduled for all patients to assess tibiofemoral position, osteoarthritis progression, and ACL graft signal intensity as indicators of graft healing, including anterior tibial subluxation (ATS), internal rotational tibial subluxation (IRTS), cartilage thickness and the signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Peking University Third Hospital

🇨🇳

Beijing, China

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