Implant free techniques in surgeries for sports related injuries of the knee

Abstract

Arthroscopic surgeries can be made cost effective by avoiding the use of implants whenever possible. Usage of confluent tunnels, suture bridges, bone bridges, and modifications in standard arthroscopic procedures will help us in achieving comparable mechanical as well as the functional outcome at the same time have technical advantages and cause less financial burden to the patient. On this technical note, we propose the use of various implant free techniques in arthroscopic and other sports related surgeries of the knee.

Maximum outcome with minimal resources: report of a multiligamentous knee injury managed with ‘modified confluent tunnel technique’

“…Some ‘implant-free reconstruction techniques’ were described by the Ortho One group in 2022 6. Though these techniques were not completely implant-free, the number of implants used was reduced.…”

“…There are some limitations to our technique. There are only a few studies on confluent tunnel technique 6 18. Functional outcomes in the MLKI setting have not been documented.…”

“…The plan was to perform a single-stage reconstruction of the ACL, PCL, PLC, and MCL using the modification and combination of confluent tunnel techniques 6…”

“…This is particularly important in low-income areas without insurance coverage, where the cost of surgery tends to play an important role in decision-making. In 2022 the Ortho One group6 described some implant-free reconstruction techniques to manage ligament injuries of the knee. These techniques were not completely implant-free, but they helped the surgeons reduce the number of implants used and the cost of the procedures.…”