The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) reconstruction by the transtibial tunnel method using cadaveric achilles tendon grafts-evaluation of the initial lengthening and the slippage ratio due to the interference screw fixation and double cross-pin fixation

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) plays an important role in knee extension. Rotational instability due to injured PCL can be restored by various PCL reconstruction methods. In this study, the initial lengthening affected by fixation device and location was demonstrated, and furthermore, the slippage and the relationship between lengthening ratio and slippage ratio in the calcaneus and soft tissue fixation methods was newly suggested. Eight specimens of proximal tibia and Achilles tendon grafts were harvested from four cadavers and divided into four groups in regard to the four different types of transtibial fixation techniques. The cyclic load ranged from 50 N to 250 N applied to each graft fixed to proximal tibia in 55 degrees. The initial lengthening ratio to the total elongation has been approximately constant regardless of the fixation methods. The soft tissue fixation method with an interference screw showed about 56.4% slippage ratio to the total elongation and the same method with a double cross-pin presented about 45.4% slippage ratio. The soft tissue fixation method with an interference screw demonstrated approximately 2 mm less total elongation and about 13% more slippage than lengthening because of poor fixation compared to the same method with a double cross-pin.