Double- or single-bundle PCL-reconstruction?

Excerpt

Like in the case of ACL-reconstructions there is still no consensus on PCL-reconstruction. While some authors like Harner et al. state that double-bundle PCL-reconstruction leads to less posterior laxity than single-bundle, others like Bergfeld et al. and Markolf et al. have cast doubts upon this. All these investigations are biomechanical investigations, however. Apsingi et al. from Amis group in London, UK, now present an interesting cadaver study where they have compared single- versus double-bundle PCL-reconstructions. They have, however, not only studied the effect on posterior laxity but also the possibility of these two reconstructive procedures to affect posterolateral laxity. They cut as well the PCL as the structures of the posterolateral corner. Although they found that double-bundle prevented posterior laxity better than single-bundle at full extension, the difference was just 1.6 mm. At all other flexion angles, there was no significant difference in posterior laxity between single- and double-bundle reconstructions. Neither one of the two reconstructions affected the external rotational laxity, however. …