Primary Repair for Injury of Medial Collateral Ligament During Total Knee Arthroplasty

This study, we aim to determine whether intraoperative over-release of MCL that is treated with primary repair can achieve satisfactory clinical results when compared to those who did not have over-release of MCL. At the same time, we seek to look into the difference between two methods of primary repair (anchor suture and staple) in terms of clinical outcomes. PURPOSES: We determined whether, after TKA, patients with CIA versus patients with CACB demonstrated (1) decreased pain scores (2) greater ambulatory ability postoperatively (3) decreased daily opioid consumption and hospital length of stay METHODS: 3897 TKAs were performed from year 2003-2014. Sixty-five patients with MCL injury due to over-release during TKA who were repaired with suture anchor or staple (suture anchor: 36 vs. staple: 29) were studied whereas matched group of 65 patients without MCL injury were selected and served as the control group. Subjective feeling of instability and functional score were assessed using Knee Society Score (KSS) and Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Objective stability was evaluated through measurement of opening angles in extension and 30° of knee flexion on valgus stress radiographs. The clinical and stability results of repair between the suture anchor and staple were compared. RESULTS: The KSS and WOMAC scores in patients with primary repair of MCL during TKA from 50.6±14.8 to 87.3±8.3 and 65.9±16.3 to 17.7±8.3, respectively. However, there were neither statistical nor clinical significant difference when comparing between the group with primary repair and the control group. Radiographic stability also showed no differences between repair and control groups in extension and 30° of flexion (p= .63 and p= .37). Regarding the subgroups, There were no significant differences between the suture anchor and staple in terms of the stability and clinical outcomes CONCLUSION: Primary repair either with suture anchor or with staple for injury of the MCL in varus gonarthrosis during TKA provides a good stability and clinical outcomes as those of result with no MCL injury.