Skip to main content

Diagnosis of Partial ACL Rupture

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Controversies in the Technical Aspects of ACL Reconstruction

Abstract

In proportion as more detailed understanding of ACL anatomy, more researches have focused on the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic partial ACL tears. Partial ACL ruptures have been recognized for many years. In ACL reconstruction, preserving the remaining bundle of the ACL in cases of partial ACL injury may have several advantages. Controversy remains regarding the definition of a partial rupture among arthroscopic surgeons. However, recent several clinical reports have demonstrated different instrumented laxity and clinical testing results between arthroscopically confirmed complete and partial ACL tears. Knees with complete ACL tear have higher anterior tibial translation and also have greater laxity with the Lachman test and pivot-shift test results when compared with the knees with partial ACL tears. Although the diagnosis of a partial versus a complete ACL tear could be made with greater accuracy during arthroscopy, the decision as to whether the ACL remnant is preserved and ACL augmentation performed should be made after thorough consideration of clinical tests, laxity measurements, MRI, and arthroscopic findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. DeFranco MJ, Bach BR Jr (2009) A comprehensive review of partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am 91:198–208

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Petersen W, Zantop T (2006) Partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy 22:1143–1145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. van Eck CF, Schreiber VM, Liu TT, Fu FH (2010) The anatomic approach to primary, revision and augmentation anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:1154–1163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Siebold R, Fu FH (2008) Assessment and augmentation of symptomatic anteromedial or posterolateral bundle tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy 24:1289–1298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dejour D, Ntagiopoulos PG, Saggin PR, Panisset JC (2013) The diagnostic value of clinical tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and instrumented laxity in the differentiation of complete versus partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. Arthroscopy 29:491–499

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Colombet P, Dejour D, Panisset JC, Siebold R, French Arthroscopy Society (2010) Current concept of partial anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 96(8 Suppl):S109–S118

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Van Dyck P, De Smet E, Veryser J et al (2012) Partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee: injury patterns on MR imaging. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20:256–261

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ochi M, Adachi N, Deie M, Kanaya A (2006) Anterior cruciate ligament augmentation procedure with a 1-incision technique: anteromedial bundle or posterolateral bundle reconstruction. Arthroscopy 22:463.e1–e5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ochi M, Adachi N, Uchio Y, Deie M, Kumahashi N, Ishikawa M, Sera S (2009) A minimum 2-year follow-up after selective anteromedial or posterolateral bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 25:117–122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Adachi N, Ochi M, Uchio Y, Sumen Y (2000) Anterior cruciate ligament augmentation under arthroscopy. A minimum 2-year follow-up in 40 patients. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 120:128–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakamae A, Ochi M, Deie M, Adachi N, Shibuya H, Ohkawa S, Hirata K (2014) Clinical outcomes of second-look arthroscopic evaluation after anterior cruciate ligament augmentation: comparison with single- and double-bundle reconstruction. Bone Joint J 96-B:1325–1332

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gohil S, Annear PO, Breidahl W (2007) Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autologous double hamstrings: a comparison of standard versus minimal debridement techniques using MRI to assess revascularisation. A randomised prospective study with a one-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Br 89:1165–1171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ahn JH, Lee SH, Choi SH, Lim TK (2010) Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring tendon autografts: comparison of remnant bundle preservation and standard technique. Am J Sports Med 38:1768–1777

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pujol N, Colombet P, Potel JF, Cucurulo T, Graveleau N, Hulet C, Panisset JC, Servien E, Sonnery-Cottet B, Trojani C, Djian P, French Arthroscopy Society (SFA) (2012) Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in partial tear: selective anteromedial bundle reconstruction conserving the posterolateral remnant versus single-bundle anatomic ACL reconstruction: preliminary 1-year results of a prospective randomized study. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 98(8 Suppl):S171–S177

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Demirağ B, Ermutlu C, Aydemir F, Durak K (2012) A comparison of clinical outcome of augmentation and standard reconstruction techniques for partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. Eklem Hastalik Cerrahisi 23:140–144

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang Q, Zhang S, Cao X, Liu L, Liu Y, Li R (2014) The effect of remnant preservation on tibial tunnel enlargement in ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:166–173

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Daniel DM, Malcom LL, Losse G, Stone ML, Sachs R, Burks R (1985) Instrumented measurement of anterior laxity of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 67:720–726

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Daniel DM, Stone ML, Sachs R, Malcom L (1985) Instrumented measurement of anterior knee laxity in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament disruption. Am J Sports Med 13:401–407

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lefevre N, Bohu Y, Naouri JF, Klouche S, Herman S (2014) Validity of GNRB® arthrometer compared to Telos™ in the assessment of partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:285–290

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Robert H, Nouveau S, Gageot S, Gagnière B (2009) A new knee arthrometer, the GNRB: experience in ACL complete and partial tears. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 95:171–176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nakamae A, Ochi M, Deie M, Adachi N, Kanaya A, Nishimori M, Nakasa T (2010) Biomechanical function of anterior cruciate ligament remnants: how long do they contribute to knee stability after injury in patients with complete tears? Arthroscopy 26:1577–1585

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sonnery-Cottet B, Barth J, Graveleau N, Fournier Y, Hager JP, Chambat P (2009) Arthroscopic identification of isolated tear of the posterolateral bundle of the anterior cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy 25:728–732

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Maeda S, Ishibashi Y, Tsuda E, Yamamoto Y, Toh S (2011) Intraoperative navigation evaluation of tibial translation after resection of anterior cruciate ligament remnants. Arthroscopy 27:1203–1210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Nakase J, Toratani T, Kosaka M, Ohashi Y, Tsuchiya H (2013) Roles of ACL remnants in knee stability. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21:2101–2106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Hoshino Y, Kuroda R, Nagamune K, Yagi M, Mizuno K, Yamaguchi M, Muratsu H, Yoshiya S, Kurosaka M (2007) In vivo measurement of the pivot-shift test in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee using an electromagnetic device. Am J Sports Med 35:1098–1104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Araki D, Kuroda R, Kubo S, Nagamune K, Hoshino Y, Nishimoto K, Takayama K, Matsushita T, Tei K, Yamaguchi M, Kurosaka M (2011) The use of an electromagnetic measurement system for anterior tibial displacement during the Lachman test. Arthroscopy 27:792–802

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kuroda R, Hoshino Y, Araki D, Nishizawa Y, Nagamune K, Matsumoto T, Kubo S, Matsushita T, Kurosaka M (2012) Quantitative measurement of the pivot shift, reliability, and clinical applications. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20:686–691

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Araki D, Kuroda R, Matsushita T, Matsumoto T, Kubo S, Nagamune K, Kurosaka M (2013) Biomechanical analysis of the knee with partial anterior cruciate ligament disruption: quantitative evaluation using an electromagnetic measurement system. Arthroscopy 29:1053–1062

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zantop T, Brucker PU, Vidal A, Zelle BA, Fu FH (2007) Intraarticular rupture pattern of the ACL. Clin Orthop Relat Res 454:48–53

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Sonnery-Cottet B, Chambat P (2007) Arthroscopic identification of the anterior cruciate ligament posterolateral bundle: the figure-of-four position. Arthroscopy 23:1128.e1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tejwani SG, Marx RG, Warren RF (2000) The figure-of-four view to evaluate ACL injury. Orthopedics 23(11):1153–1156

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Liljedahl SO, Lindvall N, Wetterfors J (1965) Early diagnosis and treatment of acute ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament; a clinical and arthrographic study of forty-eight cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 47:1503–1513

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Noyes FR, Mooar LA, Moorman CT 3rd, McGinniss GH (1989) Partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. Progression to complete ligament deficiency. J Bone Joint Surg Br 71:825–833

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kazusa H, Nakamae A, Ochi M (2013) Augmentation technique for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Clin Sports Med 32:127–140

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lo IK, de Maat GH, Valk JW, Frank CB (1999) The gross morphology of torn human anterior cruciate ligaments in unstable knees. Arthroscopy 15:301–306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Murray MM, Martin SD, Martin TL, Spector M (2000) Histological changes in the human anterior cruciate ligament after rupture. J Bone Joint Surg Am 82-A:1387–1397

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Crain EH, Fithian DC, Paxton EW, Luetzow WF (2005) Variation in anterior cruciate ligament scar pattern: does the scar pattern affect anterior laxity in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees? Arthroscopy 21:19–24

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuo Ochi MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 ISAKOS

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ochi, M., Dejour, D., Nakamae, A., Ntagiopoulos, P.G. (2017). Diagnosis of Partial ACL Rupture. In: Nakamura, N., Zaffagnini, S., Marx, R., Musahl, V. (eds) Controversies in the Technical Aspects of ACL Reconstruction. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52742-9_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52742-9_28

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-52740-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-52742-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics