Low posterior tibial slope is associated with increased risk of PCL graft failure

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the efect of posterior tibial slope (PTS) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) graft failure after PCL reconstruction. Methods Patients undergoing PCL reconstruction with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included in this retrospective cohort study. A chart review was performed to collect patient-, injury-, and surgery-related data. Medial PTS was measured on preoperative lateral radiographs. Validated PROs, including the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Lysholm Score, Tegner Activity Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale for pain, were collected at inal follow-up. A correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between PTS and PROs. A logistic regression model was performed to evaluate if PTS could predict PCL graft failure. Results Overall, 79 patients with a mean age of 28.6 ± 11.7 years and a mean follow-up of 5.7 ± 3.3 years were included. After a median time from injury of 4.0 months, isolated and combined PCL reconstruction was performed in 22 (28%) and 57 (72%) patients, respectively. There were no statistically signiicant diferences in PROs and PTS between patients undergoing isolated and combined PCL reconstruction (non-signiicant [n.s.]). There were no signiicant correlations between PTS and PROs (n.s.). In total, 14 (18%) patients experienced PCL graft failure after a median time of 17.5 months following PCL reconstruction. Patients with PCL graft failure were found to have statistically signiicantly lower PTS than patients without graft failure (7.0 ± 2.3° vs. 9.2 ± 3.3°, p < 0.05), while no diferences were found in PROs (n.s.). PTS was shown to be a signiicant predictor of PCL graft failure, with a 1.3-fold increase in the odds of graft failure for each one-degree reduction in PTS (p < 0.05). Conclusions This study showed that PTS does not afect PROs after PCL reconstruction, but that PTS represents a surgically modiiable predictor of PCL graft failure. Level of evidence III.

Decreased medial posterior tibial slope is associated with an increased risk of posterior cruciate ligament rupture

“…Decreased PTS was also to be unfavourable to posterior stability in PCL-deicient knees in biomechanical research [28]. In addition, a decreased PTS might adversely afect PCL reconstruction results and it even appears to be an important risk factor for PCL graft failure [4,7,19,37]. Similarly, previous clinical studies also conirmed the beneits of increasing the PTS via tibial osteotomy in PCL-deicient knees [17,35].…”

Decreased posterior tibial slope is a risk factor for primary posterior cruciate ligament rupture and posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction failure: A systematic review

“…[18]. In another study, a one‐degree decrease in MTS was associated with a 1.3‐fold increase in the odds of PCL graft failure (95% CI, 1.013–1.580, p < 0.05) [25].…”

The Principles of Knee Joint Preservation: Operative Treatment Strategies

“…Although elevated posterior tibial slope is a risk factor for failed ACL reconstruction, decreased posterior tibial slope increases the risk of failed posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction 18,28 and represents an indication for anterior opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy 29,30 . In a recent retrospective cohort study of 79 patients, Winkler et al 28 found a mean posterior tibial slope of 7.0° in patients who underwent failed PCL reconstruction compared with 9.2° in those who did not experience a graft failure. In a case series of 6 patients, Weiler et al 30 described performing an anterior opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy in patients with PCL deficiency and a preoperative posterior tibial slope of 2° to 5°, increasing the slope to a mean of 11.5° postoperatively.…”

“…No graft ruptures occurred at a minimum followup of 2 years. Although elevated posterior tibial slope is a risk factor for failed ACL reconstruction, decreased posterior tibial slope increases the risk of failed posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction 18,28 and represents an indication for anterior opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy 29,30 . In a recent retrospective cohort study of 79 patients, Winkler et al 28 found a mean posterior tibial slope of 7.0°in patients who underwent failed PCL reconstruction compared with 9.2°in those who did not experience a graft failure.…”