Intact, pie-crusting and repairing the posterior cruciate ligament in posterior cruciate ligament-retaining total knee arthroplasty: A 5-year follow-up

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is important for cruciate-retaining (CR) total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Whether the entire PCL should be retained during CR-TKA is controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of PCL preservation in CR-TKA and the methods used to deal with the PCL during surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with osteoarthritis undergoing primary CR-TKA (176 patients, 205 knees) in our institution between March 2012 and March 2014 was performed. A PCL protector was used to preserve the intact PCL bone block. The status of the PCL was recorded during surgery. Intact PCL preserved, pie-crusting and repairing were used to balance the tension of the PCL. Range of motion (ROM) and the Knee Society Clinical Rating system (KSS) were evaluated preoperatively and at the endpoint of follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean ROM of the knee was 103.2 ± 17.2°, KSS clinical score was 47.6 ± 9.5 and KSS functional score was 46.3 ± 11.9 before surgery. The mean ROM of the knee was 117.5 ± 9.7°, KSS clinical score was 89.2 ± 3.6 and KSS functional score was 84.6 ± 9.8 at 5 years follow-up. ROM, KSS clinical scores and KSS functional scores were significantly improved after surgery (P < 0.01). Thirty-two (23.7%) TKAs involved PCL pie-crusting and 18 (13.3%) involved PCL repair. Eighty-five (63.0%) TKAs applied standard operating procedures and preserved intact PCL. At 5 years follow-up, in the intact PCL group, the mean ROM of the knee was 118.0 ± 8.3°, KSS clinical score was 89.1 ± 3.7 and KSS functional score was 84.9 ± 9.6. In the PCL pie-crusting group, mean ROM of the knee was 114.0 ± 13.5°, KSS clinical score was 88.8 ± 3.4 and KSS functional score was 83.8 ± 10.5. In the PCL repair group, mean ROM of the knee was 120.3 ± 7.0°, KSS clinical score was 89.0 ± 3.6 and KSS functional score was 89.4 ± 4.5. There were no significant differences in ROM, KSS clinical scores and KSS functional scores among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The clinical outcomes of preserving the PCL in CR-TKA are encouraging. Pie-crusting and PCL repair do not affect the function. The PCL protector effectively protected the PCL bone block.

Key Words: Knee; Total knee arthroplasty; Posterior cruciate ligament; Knee function; Range of motion

Core tip: The number of cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (CR-TKA) is increasing. Whether the entire posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) should be retained during CR-TKA is controversial. The PCL protector can effectively protect the PCL bone block. Application of the PCL protector is described in this study, and the methods used to balance the tension of the PCL (pie-crusting and repairing) are reported. The strategy for a tight PCL in CR-TKA is summarized. The clinical outcomes are evaluated by range of motion and Knee Society Clinical Rating system scores.

INTRODUCTION

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is successful in providing pain relief and normal knee function for patients with osteoarthritis. One of the most persistent issues in TKA is the role of retention or substitution of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Numerous studies have reported on the kinematics, clinical efficacy and lifespan of cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-substitution (PS) TKA. The advantages and disadvantages of CR-TKA and PS-TKA are controversial[1-7]. Due to the design of PS prostheses, wearing between the cam and post is inevitable during long-term survival. The cam–post mechanism may not fully restore the functional capacity of the intact PCL. As mentioned previously, a large number of surgeons would like to adopt CR-TKA as the first choice, especially in Europe[4,8-13].

To reconstruct the mechanical axis of the knee through bone resection, soft tissue balance is the goal of TKA. The PCL is the main restraint against posterior translation of the tibia. The tension and intactness of the PCL are important factors for the success of CR-TKA. It has been demonstrated that CR-TKA increases knee range of motion (ROM) and preserves optimal knee stability during flexion and extension, especially during climbing stairs. The advocates of CR-TKA consider that retaining the PCL could maintain femoral rollback during flexion of the knee. Therefore, CR-TKA could achieve better flexion and muscle strength of the lower limbs[3,8,14-16]. The PCL is composed of anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. The anterolateral bundle is the main functional part of the PCL and plays an important role in the stability of knee flexion[9,14]. The anterolateral bundle of the PCL should not be sacrificed in CR-TKA, although it would be easier to balance the flexion gap by releasing or excising the anterolateral bundle[15,17,18].

The purposes of the present study were: (1) To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intact PCL-retaining TKA in osteoarthritis; (2) To record the status of the PCL during CR-TKA; and (3) To discuss the technique for preserving the intact PCL and restoring its function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients

This retrospective review involved 176 patients (205 knees) with end-stage degenerative osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University between March 2012 and March 2014. Patients who met the following criteria, were included in the study: (1) A CR-prosthesis (Gemini Mark II, LINK, Germany) was implanted with a cementing technique; (2) At least 60 years old; (3) PCL status during surgery was recorded; and (4) Body mass index < 30 kg/m². Patients were excluded for any of the following reasons: (1) History of fractures around the knee or femoral and tibial shaft; (2) History of surgery around the knee; (3) Patients with valgus deformities of the knee; or (4) Patients with deficiency of PCL function.

Surgical technique

Patients were placed in the supine position under either general or spinal–epidural combined anesthesia and an air tourniquet was applied in all cases. The standard TKA procedure with conventional instrumentation was performed in this study. An anterior midline skin incision was made from the suprapatellar area extending to the medial side of the tibial tubercle, and a medial parapatellar approach was used.

A PCL protector was applied before the tibial cut (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Intraoperative photograph showing preserved bone block at the tibial attachment of the PCL (Figure 3A). The resected tibial plateau showed the shape of the intact PCL bone block at the tibial attachment (Figure 3B and C). Radiography after TKA showed the intact PCL bone block at the tibial attachment (Figure 4). Extramedullary instrumentation was used to achieve a target tibial cut of 90° relative to the mechanical axis in the coronal plane and of 5° relative to the posterior slope in the sagittal plane. The medial third of the tibial tubercle was the rotation landmark. A measured resection technique was used to balance the extension and flexion gap. A distal femoral cut was performed with an intramedullary instrumentation setting at 6° of the anatomic valgus. Referring to the externally rotated 3° of the posterior condyles, a femoral external rotation cut was performed. After appropriate soft-tissue release, trials of the tibial and femoral side were installed to test stability, equality of extension and flexion gap, ROM, patellar tracking, and alignment of the lower limbs. Next, the prosthesis was fixed with cement. No patellar resurfacing was performed in any of our cases. After appropriate soft-tissue release, especially at the medial side, the PCL was assessed at 90° of flexion with the trial implants. Excessive femoral rollback and anterior lift off of the tibial trial implant indicated that the knee was tight in flexion. Palpation and drawer test were used to test the tension of the PCL. If the PCL tension was too high and there were no other causes of a small flexion gap, pie-crusting was applied to obtain appropriate PCL tension. Sometimes high tension of the PCL led to detachment of the PCL bone block from the tibia, then a repairing procedure was performed (Figure 5). Figure 6 shows the strategy for a tight PCL in CR-TKA.

Figure 1 Posterior cruciate ligament protectors applied during surgery.

Figure 2 Insertion of the posterior cruciate ligament protector. A: Exposure of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL); B: The protector was inserted around the PCL; C: Enough depth was necessary to protect the intact bone block of the PCL.

Figure 3 Intraoperative photographs. A: Preserved bone block at the tibial attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament (arrow); B, C: The resected tibial plateau showing the shape of the intact posterior cruciate ligament bone block at the tibial attachment (arrows).

Figure 4 Radiograph after total knee arthroplasty showing the intact posterior cruciate ligament bone block at the tibial attachment (arrows).

Figure 5 Intraoperative photographs showing the assessment of the posterior cruciate ligament. A: To check that the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was not entrapped by the trial implant; B: To check the tension of the PCL at 90°of flexion with the trial implant; C: Releasing the PCL with the pie-crusting technique to obtain an appropriate tension of the PCL, especially the anterolateral bundle at the femoral side; D: A tendon suture was used to repair the detachment of the PCL bone block from the tibia. The suture could be tightened to adjust the tension of the PCL. The suture was fixed under the tibial component by cement.

Figure 6 Strategy for a tight posterior cruciate ligament in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty. PCL: Posterior cruciate ligament.

After TKA surgery, the patients walked with crutches or a walker as early as possible. Functional exercise and physical therapy were initiated on the first day after surgery. Patients require at least 1-wk rehabilitative exercise in hospital. Lower limb strengthening exercise and active and passive flexion–extension exercise of the knee was maintained at least 3 mo after surgery.

Clinical outcome evaluations

The patients were reviewed at 5 years follow-up by an independent surgeon. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using ROM and Knee Society Clinical Rating System scores (KSS). The KSS includes clinical and functional scores for the knee.

Statistical analysis

The measurement data, including age, ROM, KSS clinical scores and KSS functional scores were represented by the mean ± SD. The preoperative and postoperative values were statistically analyzed using independent t tests. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze the values among the groups. SPSS version 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

General information

During follow-up, three patients required secondary wound debridement due to poor wound healing. A second operation was needed for two patients due to a periprosthetic fracture caused by falling down. Non-periprosthetic lower limb fractures occurred in three patients. Two patients developed paralysis due to nervous system dysfunction. Six patients died from non-surgical causes. Sixteen patients exited from the follow-up. Moreover, 51 patients were lost to follow-up due to a change of contact information. Of 176 patients, 109 (135 knees), 88 women and 21 men, completed the 5 years follow-up. The follow-up rate was 61.9%. The mean age of the 109 patients was 73.2 ± 4.1 years (range, 67–83 years).

Clinical outcomes

The results are shown in Table 1. ROM, KSS clinical scores and KSS functional scores were significantly improved at 5 years follow-up, as compared to the preoperative values (t = 7.57, P < 0.01; t = 42.71, P < 0.01; and t = 25.85, P < 0.01, respectively). Of the 135 knees, there were no iatrogenic injuries to the PCL during the tibial cut with the PCL protector. Thirty-two TKAs (23.7%) involved PCL pie-crusting due to the tightness at 90° of flexion. Eighteen TKAs (13.3%) included PCL repair due to detachment of the PCL bone block from the tibia. Eighty-five operations (63.0%) applied standard operating procedures and preserved an intact PCL. There were no significant differences in ROM, KSS clinical scores and KSS functional scores among the three groups (Table 2).

Table 1 Range of motion and the Knee Society Clinical Rating system scores of the included patients.

	ROM (°)	KSS clinical scores	KSS functional scores
Before surgery	103.2 ± 17.2	47.6 ± 9.5	46.3 ± 11.9
Follow-up	117.5 ± 9.7	89.2 ± 3.6	84.6 ± 9.8
P value	0.00	0.00	0.00

The data are presented as mean ± SD. ROM: Range of motion; KSS: The Knee Society Clinical Rating system.

Table 2 Clinical outcomes according to the posterior cruciate ligament treatment group.

	ROM (°)	KSS clinical scores	KSS functional scores
Intact PCL	118.0 ± 8.3	89.1 ± 3.7	84.9 ± 9.6
Pie-crusting	114.0 ± 13.5	88.8 ± 3.4	83.8 ± 10.5
Repairing	120.3 ± 7.0	89.0 ± 3.6	89.4 ± 4.5
P value	> 0.05	> 0.05	> 0.05

The data are presented as mean ± SD. PCL: Posterior cruciate ligament; ROM: Range of motion; KSS: The Knee Society Clinical Rating system.

DISCUSSION

The present study demonstrated that CR-TKA could achieve good outcomes in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. The ROM, KSS clinical scores and functional scores significantly improved after surgery. The PCL pie-crusting and PCL repair groups showed the same clinical outcomes compared to the intact PCL group. This indicated that correct treatment of the PCL could achieve the same results as the intact PCL in CR-TKA. In addition to accurate bone resection, soft-tissue release is important for lower limb alignment, balance of extension and flexion gap, ROM, knee kinematics, and clinical efficacy[11,19-22]. A large flexion gap rarely occurs in CR-TKA. If the flexion and extension gap is imbalanced, the flexion gap is smaller than the extension gap in most cases. At the same time, a small flexion gap is important to treat during the operation. Excessive femoral rollback and anterior lift off of the tibial trial implant is effective for indicating that the knee is tight in flexion[9]. Numerous reasons could lead to a smaller flexion gap than extension gap in varus TKA, such as insufficient release of the anterior bundle of the medial collateral ligament, tightness of PCL, increasing the posterior condyles offset after femoral resection, and an insufficient posterior slope of the tibia. Release of the PCL should be the last step to obtain a satisfactory flexion gap. Excluding other reasons, if palpation and drawer test confirm tightness of the PCL, pie-crusting with a syringe needle can be applied to release the PCL. The anterolateral bundle of the PCL can bear more tension than the posteromedial bundle of the PCL. Therefore, pie-crusting should be applied at the anterolateral bundle of the PCL, close to the femoral insertion. The pie-crusting should be performed after the trial implants are set in order to obtain the appropriate PCL tension. After trial implants have been installed, during the assessment of stability, equality of extension and flexion gap, ROM, patellar tracking, and alignment of the lower limbs, high tension of the PCL can lead to detachment of the PCL bone block from the tibia. To restore PCL function, the tendon suture is used to surround the proximal side of the PCL bone block and anatomical reduction is not necessary. After cement is placed on the tibial plateau, the suture is placed under the tibial prosthesis. PCL tension can be adjusted by the tendon suture at 90° of flexion. Maintaining the appropriate tension of the tendon suture until the cement solidifies, ensures that the tendon suture is fixed between the tibial prosthesis and cement. This method allows easy tightening of the loosened PCL. Moreover, it is an effective way of restoring PCL function after CR-TKA, as described in the present study.

Intact or partially preserved PCL in CR-TKA is debatable. Dion et al[23] reported that of 677 CR-TKAs, 540 retained intact PCL, 24 had partially recessed PCL at the femoral side, and 113 completely excised the PCL. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes among the three groups. No cases converted CR implant to PS-TKA. In the PCL-excision group, one TKA failed due to instability. Dion et al[23] considered that a tight PCL may cause excessive femoral rollback, restrictions in flexion, and increase contact stresses, leading to polyethylene wear and even posteromedial subluxation. Therefore, partial release and excision of the PCL should be applied to achieve adequate knee balancing. Other studies have made similar claims; that released and excised PCL does not require revision of the CR component to a PS component[15,24-26]. However, our institution reported that the double-bundle PCL played an important role in maintaining knee stability[3]. The mean maximum anteroposterior displacement of the knee at 90° of flexion was significantly greater in the partially released group than in the intact group in CR-TKA cases. KSS function scores were significantly higher in the intact group than in the partially released group 2 years after surgery. It would be easier to balance the flexion gap in CR-TKA after the PCL is released or excised. However, when a small flexion gap occurs, the reason should be established, as mentioned above. Excision of the PCL was the no-alternative way to finish CR-TKA. The anterolateral bundle is tense in flexion, limits the space for knee flexion, and induces posterior femoral translation. The anterolateral and posteromedial bundles of the PCL should be preserved intact in CR-TKA, especially the anterolateral bundle. Firstly, the anterolateral bundle is the major part of the PCL. It maintains tension at knee flexion and rollback of the femoral component. Yue et al[27] reported that a deficiency in the function of the PCL in CR-TKA may compromise the function in controlling knee rotation, and is overstretched during late flexion. Poor function of the PCL does not maintain femoral rollback, and it accelerates wear of the polyethylene bearing and affects the degree of flexion. This leads to early failure if a non-elevated anterior lip of the bearing is used. Secondly, the anterolateral bundle of the PCL endures the major strength during knee flexion. Steinbruck et al[28] reported that the anterolateral bundle of the PCL endured 200 N force and the posteromedial bundle only 50 N during knee movement. If the anterolateral bundle of the PCL was released > 75%, the force endured by the PCL decreased to around 70 N. Van Opstal et al[18] reported mechanical measurements of TKA from fresh-frozen cadavers. The results showed that retaining the bone block in front of the anterolateral bundle of the PCL could endure greater tensile strength and reduce the risk of secondary surgical failure due to flexion instability of the primary TKA. Therefore, Van Opstal et al[18] recommended leaving the posterior tibial cortex anterior to the PCL insertion intact when performing CR-TKA, which was the same as in our study. Excision of the anterolateral bundle of the PCL significantly impaired PCL function, especially at knee flexion. Lastly, mechanoreceptors are distributed in the PCL. The healthy PCL can provide more mechanoreceptor function. Zhang et al[29] reported that mechanoreceptors appear to occupy similar areas before and after implantation of a CR-TKA. This indicates that if mechanoreceptors continue to work after CR-TKA, then they may continue to participate in proprioception of the knee after CR-TKA. These results may explain why patients who undergo CR-TKA can climb stairs better than patients who undergo PS-TKA.

The intact PCL can be preserved using a PCL protector, which is easy to perform during surgery. Cinotti et al[30] reported that, in order to spare the whole PCL insertion when CR implants are used, the maximum thickness of the tibial cut should be 4 mm when a 0° sagittal slope is used, and even less when a 3° or 5° posterior sagittal slope is used. Matziolis et al[31] expressed a similar opinion. Obviously, 4-mm thickness is not enough to accommodate the tibial tray without changing the joint line. A mean surface area of 68.8% was removed after the tibial cut without protections, and would have seriously affected PCL function[16]. Therefore, the protector is necessary to preserve the PCL attachment on the tibia during tibial resection. Non-iatrogenic injuries of the PCL occurred during the tibial cut in our study, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the PCL protector. It should be noted that the PCL protector should be at an appropriate depth in the tibia to obstruct the saw blade during the tibial cut. According to our experience, the depth should be 15–20 mm.

There were several limitations to this study. Firstly, it was a retrospective, non-randomized, single-center study, with all the limitations of such a study design. Secondly, the balance of flexion and extension gap was not measured by quantitative index, which could have been more objective. Lastly, a longer follow-up should be carried out to evaluate the clinical outcomes and survival rates.

In conclusion, this study presents evidence for preserving the PCL in CR-TKA to obtain good clinical outcomes. The PCL protector can effectively protect the PCL bone block and does not increase the difficulty of TKA. PCL pie-crusting and PCL repair have no impact on the clinical outcomes in CR-TKA.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

One of the most persistent issues discussed in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the role of retention or substitution of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Whether the entire PCL should be retained during cruciate-retaining (CR)-TKA is controversial. Maintaining the function of the PCL is the goal of CR-TKA.

Research motivation

The PCL is composed of anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. The anterolateral bundle is the main functional part of the PCL and plays an important role in the stability of knee flexion. The anterolateral bundle of the PCL should not be sacrificed in CR-TKA, although it would be easier to balance the flexion gap by releasing or excising the anterolateral bundle.

Research objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PCL preservation in CR-TKA and the methods used to deal with the PCL during surgery.

Research methods

A total of 176 patients (205 knees) were involved in this study. A PCL protector was used to preserve the intact PCL bone block during the CR-TKA. The status of the PCL was recorded during surgery. Intact PCL preserved, pie-crusting and repairing were used to balance the tension of the PCL according to the strategy used for a tight PCL in CR-TKA. Range of motion (ROM) and the Knee Society Clinical Rating system (KSS) scores were evaluated as the clinical outcomes.

Research results

The intact PCL could be preserved in most CR-TKAs (63.0%). 23.7% of CR-TKAs required pie-crusting and 13.3% required PCL repair to balance the tension of the PCL. The ROM and KSS scores were significantly improved after surgery in all cases and there were no differences in the three groups.

Research conclusions

The PCL protector can effectively protect the PCL bone block and does not increase the difficulty of TKA. PCL pie-crusting and PCL repair have no impact on the clinical outcomes in CR-TKA and can be included during surgery to balance the tension of the PCL.

Research perspectives

Preservation of the intact PCL can be achieved by the PCL protector and the surgical technique used. Sometimes it can be difficult to balance the tension of the intact PCL. In future research, more attention should be paid to investigating the relationship between the intact PCL and balance of the PCL during CR-TKA.