Journey around the Notch: A Systematic Review on the History of ACL Reconstruction in the United States

Alex E. White; Duncan Van Nest; Fotios P. Tjoumakaris; Kevin B. Freedman

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1712947

The Journal of Knee Surgery, Table of Contents

J Knee Surg 2022; 35(01): 061-071
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712947

Original Article

Journey around the Notch: A Systematic Review on the History of ACL Reconstruction in the United States

Authors

Alex E. White

¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
Duncan Van Nest

²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fotios P. Tjoumakaris

²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kevin B. Freedman

³Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Abstract

The evolution of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, seemingly circular at times, informs and provides context for past and current controversies in ACL management. The purpose of this systematic review is to objectively summarize the historical course of ACL reconstruction and repair in the United States over the last 40 years. Femoral tunnel drilling and graft selection have evolved dramatically over the last few decades. An initial focus on restoring ACL anatomy was for a period sacrificed for decreased operative morbidity. However, recent developments in operative techniques aim to restore ACL anatomy while also achieving minimal operative morbidity. Despite this historically iterative process, there remains no perfect choice for the treatment of ACL tears. Continued research on ACL repair, anatomic graft placement, graft choice, and augmentation will help our patients over the next generation.

Keywords

anterior cruciate ligament - ACL surgery - sports medicine - systematic review

Full Text

References

References
1 Sanders TL, Maradit Kremers H, Bryan AJ. et al. Incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears and reconstruction: a 21-year population-based study. Am J Sports Med 2016; 44 (06) 1502-1507
2 Mall NA, Chalmers PN, Moric M. et al. Incidence and trends of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the United States. Am J Sports Med 2014; 42 (10) 2363-2370
3 Chambat P, Guier C, Sonnery-Cottet B, Fayard JM, Thaunat M. The evolution of ACL reconstruction over the last fifty years. Int Orthop 2013; 37 (02) 181-186
4 Clancy Jr WGJ, Nelson DA, Reider B, Narechania RG. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using one-third of the patellar ligament, augmented by extra-articular tendon transfers. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1982; 64 (03) 352-359
5 Anderson AF, Snyder RB, Lipscomb Sr AB. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons augmented by the losee iliotibial band tenodesis. A long-term study. Am J Sports Med 1994; 22 (05) 620-626
6 Pritchard JC, Drez Jr D, Moss M, Heck S. Long-term followup of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using freeze-dried fascia lata allografts. Am J Sports Med 1995; 23 (05) 593-596
7 Arendt EA, Hunter RE, Schneider WT. Vascularized patella tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1989; (244) 222-232
8 O'Brien SJ, Warren RF, Wickiewicz TL. et al. The iliotibial band lateral sling procedure and its effect on the results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 1991; 19 (01) 21-24 , discussion 24–25
9 Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with human allograft. Comparison of early and later results. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1996; 78 (04) 524-537
10 Noyes FR, Barber SD, Mangine RE. Bone-patellar ligament-bone and fascia lata allografts for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1990; 72 (08) 1125-1136
11 Sgaglione NA, Del Pizzo W, Fox JM, Friedman MJ. Arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the pes anserine tendons. Comparison of results in acute and chronic ligament deficiency. Am J Sports Med 1993; 21 (02) 249-256
12 Levitt RL, Malinin T, Posada A, Michalow A. Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligaments with bone-patellar tendon-bone and Achilles tendon allografts. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1994; (303) 67-78
13 Karlson JA, Steiner ME, Brown CH, Johnston J. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using gracilis and semitendinosus tendons. Comparison of through-the-condyle and over-the-top graft placements. Am J Sports Med 1994; 22 (05) 659-666
14 Indelicato PA, Linton RC, Huegel M. The results of fresh-frozen patellar tendon allografts for chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the knee. Am J Sports Med 1992; 20 (02) 118-121
15 Otero AL, Hutcheson L. A comparison of the doubled semitendinosus/gracilis and central third of the patellar tendon autografts in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 1993; 9 (02) 143-148
16 Bach Jr BR, Aadalen KJ, Dennis MG. et al. Primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using fresh-frozen, nonirradiated patellar tendon allograft: minimum 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 2005; 33 (02) 284-292
17 Bach Jr BR, Tradonsky S, Bojchuk J, Levy ME, Bush-Joseph CA, Khan NH. Arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft. Five- to nine-year follow-up evaluation. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26 (01) 20-29
18 Billotti JD, Meese MA, Alberta F, Zimmerman MC. A prospective, clinical study evaluating arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using the semitendinosus and iliotibial band: 2- to 5-year follow up. Orthopedics 1997; 20 (02) 125-131
19 Stringham DR, Pelmas CJ, Burks RT, Newman AP, Marcus RL. Comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions using patellar tendon autograft or allograft. Arthroscopy 1996; 12 (04) 414-421
20 Arciero RA, Scoville CR, Snyder RJ, Uhorchak JM, Taylor DC, Huggard DJ. Single versus two-incision arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 1996; 12 (04) 462-469
21 Beynnon BD, Johnson RJ, Fleming BC. et al. Anterior cruciate ligament replacement: comparison of bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts with two-strand hamstring grafts. A prospective, randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2002; 84 (09) 1503-1513
22 Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD. A comparison of results in acute and chronic anterior cruciate ligament ruptures of arthroscopically assisted autogenous patellar tendon reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 1997; 25 (04) 460-471
23 Siegel MG, Barber-Westin SD. Arthroscopic-assisted outpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Arthroscopy 1998; 14 (03) 268-277
24 Merchant TC. Comparison of three patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques with emphasis on tunnel location and outcome. Are our results improving?. Iowa Orthop J 2001; 21: 25-30
25 Barrett GR, Treacy SH. The effect of intraoperative isometric measurement on the outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a clinical analysis. Arthroscopy 1996; 12 (06) 645-651
26 Peterson RK, Shelton WR, Bomboy AL. Allograft versus autograft patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a5-year follow-up. Arthroscopy 2001; 17 (01) 9-13
27 Shelton WR, Papendick L, Dukes AD. Autograft versus allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 1997; 13 (04) 446-449
28 Anderson AF, Snyder RB, Lipscomb Jr AB. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A prospective randomized study of three surgical methods. Am J Sports Med 2001; 29 (03) 272-279
29 Bach Jr BR, Levy ME, Bojchuk J, Tradonsky S, Bush-Joseph CA, Khan NH. Single-incision endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft. Minimum two-year follow-up evaluation. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26 (01) 30-40
30 Howell SM, Deutsch ML. Comparison of endoscopic and two-incision techniques for reconstructing a torn anterior cruciate ligament using hamstring tendons. Arthroscopy 1999; 15 (06) 594-606
31 Noojin FK, Barrett GR, Hartzog CW, Nash CR. Clinical comparison of intraarticular anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in men versus women. Am J Sports Med 2000; 28 (06) 783-789
32 Barrett GR, Noojin FK, Hartzog CW, Nash CR. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in females: a comparison of hamstring versus patellar tendon autograft. Arthroscopy 2002; 18 (01) 46-54
33 Chang SKY, Egami DK, Shaieb MD, Kan DM, Richardson AB. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: allograft versus autograft. Arthroscopy 2003; 19 (05) 453-462
34 Shelbourne KD, Gray T, Haro M. Incidence of subsequent injury to either knee within 5 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft. Am J Sports Med 2009; 37 (02) 246-251
35 Prodromos CC, Han YS, Keller BL, Bolyard RJ. Stability results of hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at 2- to 8-year follow-up. Arthroscopy 2005; 21 (02) 138-146
36 Barrett GR, Luber K, Replogle WH, Manley JL. Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the young, active patient: Tegner activity level and failure rate. Arthroscopy 2010; 26 (12) 1593-1601
37 Barber FA. Tripled semitendinosus-cancellous bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bioscrew fixation. Arthroscopy 1999; 15 (04) 360-367
38 Shaieb MD, Kan DM, Chang SK, Marumoto JM, Richardson AB. A prospective randomized comparison of patellar tendon versus semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 2002; 30 (02) 214-220
39 Amendola A, Menon M, Clatworthy M, Fowler PJ. The effect of fixation technique on graft position in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Iowa Orthop J 2003; 23: 29-35
40 Poehling GG, Curl WW, Lee CA. et al. Analysis of outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament repair with 5-year follow-up: allograft versus autograft. Arthroscopy 2005; 21 (07) 774-785
41 Barber FA. Flipped patellar tendon autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 2000; 16 (05) 483-490
42 Scranton Jr PEJ, Bagenstose JE, Lantz BA, Friedman MJ, Khalfayan EE, Auld MK. Quadruple hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a multicenter study. Arthroscopy 2002; 18 (07) 715-724
43 Williams III RJ, Hyman J, Petrigliano F, Rozental T, Wickiewicz TL. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a four-strand hamstring tendon autograft. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004; 86 (02) 225-232
44 Rihn JA, Irrgang JJ, Chhabra A, Fu FH, Harner CD. Does irradiation affect the clinical outcome of patellar tendon allograft ACL reconstruction?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2006; 14 (09) 885-896
45 Geib TM, Shelton WR, Phelps RA, Clark L. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadriceps tendon autograft: intermediate-term outcome. Arthroscopy 2009; 25 (12) 1408-1414
46 Indelli PF, Dillingham MF, Fanton GS, Schurman DJ. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using cryopreserved allografts. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2004; (420) 268-275
47 Charlton WPH, Randolph Jr DAJ, Lemos S, Shields Jr CL. Clinical outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring tendon graft and bioabsorbable interference screw fixation. Am J Sports Med 2003; 31 (04) 518-521
48 Edgar CM, Zimmer S, Kakar S, Jones H, Schepsis AA. Prospective comparison of auto and allograft hamstring tendon constructs for ACL reconstruction. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008; 466 (09) 2238-2246
49 Ellis HB, Matheny LM, Briggs KK, Pennock AT, Steadman JR. Outcomes and revision rate after bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft versus autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients aged 18 years or younger with closed physes. Arthroscopy 2012; 28 (12) 1819-1825
50 Steadman JR, Matheny LM, Hurst JM, Briggs KK. Patient-centered outcomes and revision rate in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft compared with bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft: a matched case-control study. Arthroscopy 2015; 31 (12) 2320-2326
51 Verma NN, Dennis MG, Carreira DS, Bojchuk J, Hayden JK, Bach Jr BR. Preliminary clinical results of two techniques for addressing graft tunnel mismatch in endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Knee Surg 2005; 18 (03) 183-191
52 Singhal MC, Gardiner JR, Johnson DL. Failure of primary anterior cruciate ligament surgery using anterior tibialis allograft. Arthroscopy 2007; 23 (05) 469-475
53 Maletis GB, Cameron SL, Tengan JJ, Burchette RJ. A prospective randomized study of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comparison of patellar tendon and quadruple-strand semitendinosus/gracilis tendons fixed with bioabsorbable interference screws. Am J Sports Med 2007; 35 (03) 384-394
54 Baumfeld JA, Diduch DR, Rubino LJ. et al. Tunnel widening following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring autograft: a comparison between double cross-pin and suspensory graft fixation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2008; 16 (12) 1108-1113
55 Taylor DC, DeBerardino TM, Nelson BJ. et al. Patellar tendon versus hamstring tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial using similar femoral and tibial fixation methods. Am J Sports Med 2009; 37 (10) 1946-1957
56 Mehta VM, Mandala C, Foster D, Petsche TS. Comparison of revision rates in bone-patella tendon-bone autograft and allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Orthopedics 2010; 33 (01) 12 . Doi: 10.3928/01477447-20091124-15
57 Barrett AM, Craft JA, Replogle WH, Hydrick JM, Barrett GR. Anterior cruciate ligament graft failure: a comparison of graft type based on age and Tegner activity level. Am J Sports Med 2011; 39 (10) 2194-2198
58 Kamien PM, Hydrick JM, Replogle WH, Go LT, Barrett GR. Age, graft size, and Tegner activity level as predictors of failure in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft. Am J Sports Med 2013; 41 (08) 1808-1812
59 Lenehan EA, Payne WB, Askam BM, Grana WA, Farrow LD. Long-term outcomes of allograft reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Am J Orthop 2015; 44 (05) 217-222
60 Hurt III JA, Berry JH, Replogle W. et al. Efficacy of two techniques in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Knee Surg 2017; 30 (06) 606-611
61 Bottoni CR, Smith EL, Shaha J. et al. Autograft versus allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized clinical study with a minimum 10-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 2015; 43 (10) 2501-2509
62 Barber FA, Aziz-Jacobo J, Oro FB. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon allograft: an age-dependent outcome evaluation. Arthroscopy 2010; 26 (04) 488-493
63 Lawhorn KW, Howell SM, Traina SM, Gottlieb JE, Meade TD, Freedberg HI. The effect of graft tissue on anterior cruciate ligament outcomes: a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing autograft hamstrings with fresh-frozen anterior tibialis allograft. Arthroscopy 2012; 28 (08) 1079-1086
64 Larson CM, Bedi A, Dietrich ME. et al. Generalized hypermobility, knee hyperextension, and outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: prospective, case-control study with mean 6 years follow-up. Arthroscopy 2017; 33 (10) 1852-1858
65 Fu FH, Shen W, Starman JS, Okeke N, Irrgang JJ. Primary anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a preliminary 2-year prospective study. Am J Sports Med 2008; 36 (07) 1263-1274
66 Johnston M, Morse A, Arrington J, Pliner M, Gasser S. Resorption and remodeling of hydroxyapatite-poly-L-lactic acid composite anterior cruciate ligament interference screws. Arthroscopy 2011; 27 (12) 1671-1678
67 Fleming BC, Fadale PD, Hulstyn MJ. et al. The effect of initial graft tension after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized clinical trial with 36-month follow-up. Am J Sports Med 2013; 41 (01) 25-34
68 Akelman MR, Fadale PD, Hulstyn MJ. et al. Effect of matching or overconstraining knee laxity during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on knee osteoarthritis and clinical outcomes: a randomized controlled trial with 84-month follow-up. Am J Sports Med 2016; 44 (07) 1660-1670
69 Shah AA, McCulloch PC, Lowe WR. Failure rate of Achilles tendon allograft in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 2010; 26 (05) 667-674
70 Meike E, Howell SM, Hull ML. Anterior laxity and patient-reported outcomes 7 years after ACL reconstruction with a fresh-frozen tibialis allograft. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2017; 25 (05) 1500-1509
71 van Eck CF, Schkrohowsky JG, Working ZM, Irrgang JJ, Fu FH. Prospective analysis of failure rate and predictors of failure after anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with allograft. Am J Sports Med 2012; 40 (04) 800-807
72 Mariscalco MW, Magnussen RA, Mitchell J. et al. How much hamstring graft needs to be in the femoral tunnel? A MOON cohort study. Eur Orthop Traumatol 2015; 6 (01) 9-13
73 Uribe JW, Arango D, Frank J, Kiebzak GM. Two-year outcome with the AperFix system for ACL reconstruction. Orthopedics 2013; 36 (02) e159-e164
74 Mulcahey MK, David TS, Epstein DM, Alaia MJ, Montgomery KD. Transtibial versus anteromedial portal anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using soft-tissue graft and expandable fixation. Arthroscopy 2014; 30 (11) 1461-1467
75 Burrus MT, Werner BC, Crow AJ. et al. Increased failure rates after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with soft-tissue autograft-allograft hybrid grafts. Arthroscopy 2015; 31 (12) 2342-2351
76 Darnley JE, Léger-St-Jean B, Pedroza AD, Flanigan DC, Kaeding CC, Magnussen RA. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a combination of autograft and allograft tendon: a MOON cohort study. Orthop J Sports Med 2016; 4 (07) 2325967116662249
77 Kane PW, Wascher J, Dodson CC, Hammoud S, Cohen SB, Ciccotti MG. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft versus allograft in skeletally mature patients aged 25 years or younger. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2016; 24 (11) 3627-3633
78 DiFelice GS, van der List JP. Clinical outcomes of arthroscopic primary repair of proximal anterior cruciate ligament tears are maintained at mid-term follow-up. Arthroscopy 2018; 34 (04) 1085-1093
79 Kraeutler MJ, Kim SH, Brown CC. et al. Clinical outcomes following primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft versus planned hybrid graft. J Knee Surg 2018; 31 (09) 827-833
80 Leo BM, Krill M, Barksdale L, Alvarez-Pinzon AM. Failure rate and clinical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autograft hamstring versus a hybrid graft. Arthroscopy 2016; 32 (11) 2357-2363
81 Capo J, Shamah SD, Jazrawi L, Strauss E. Clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction with tibialis anterior allograft using an anteromedial portal approach. Knee 2016; 23 (06) 1089-1092
82 Murray MM, Kalish LA, Fleming BC. et al; BEAR Trial Team. Bridge-enhanced anterior cruciate ligament repair: two-year results of a first-in-human study. Orthop J Sports Med 2019; 7 (03) 2325967118824356
83 Desai VS, Anderson GR, Wu IT. et al. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft: a matched cohort comparison of the all-inside and complete tibial tunnel techniques. Orthop J Sports Med 2019; 7 (01) 2325967118820297
84 Samuelsson K, Andersson D, Ahldén M, Fu FH, Musahl V, Karlsson J. Trends in surgeon preferences on anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive techniques. Clin Sports Med 2013; 32 (01) 111-126
85 Herzog MM, Marshall SW, Lund JL, Pate V, Mack CD, Spang JT. Trends in incidence of ACL reconstruction and concomitant procedures among commercially insured individuals in the United States, 2002-2014. Sports Health 2018; 10 (06) 523-531
86 Dandy DJ, Flanagan JP, Steenmeyer V. Arthroscopy and the management of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1982; (167) 43-49
87 O'Donoghue DH. A method for replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1963; 45: 905-924
88 Schindler OS. Surgery for anterior cruciate ligament deficiency: a historical perspective. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2012; 20 (01) 5-47
89 Shino K, Kimura T, Hirose H, Inoue M, Ono K. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by allogeneic tendon graft. An operation for chronic ligamentous insufficiency. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1986; 68 (05) 739-746
90 Mott HW. Semitendinosus anatomic reconstruction for cruciate ligament insufficiency. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1983; (172) 90-92
91 Sakane M, Fox RJ, Woo SL, Livesay GA, Li G, Fu FH. In situ forces in the anterior cruciate ligament and its bundles in response to anterior tibial loads. J Orthop Res 1997; 15 (02) 285-293
92 Feagin Jr JA, Curl WW. Isolated tear of the anterior cruciate ligament: 5-year follow-up study. Am J Sports Med 1976; 4 (03) 95-100
93 Sonnery-Cottet B, Daggett M, Fayard JM. et al. Anterolateral Ligament Expert Group consensus paper on the management of internal rotation and instability of the anterior cruciate ligament - deficient knee. J Orthop Traumatol 2017; 18 (02) 91-106