Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Introduction: Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (MDACL) is a poorly understood entity. The collection of mucinous material in the substance of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) produces pain and thus limits motion in the knee. This study involves clinic-radiological presentation o...

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Main Authors: Madan Mohan Ballal, K. J. C. Chidanand, Vijendra Yadav, Akshay Dhanda, Chetan Nagaraja, Sachin K. Gowda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of the Scientific Society
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jss.jss_268_22
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author Madan Mohan Ballal
K. J. C. Chidanand
Vijendra Yadav
Akshay Dhanda
Chetan Nagaraja
Sachin K. Gowda
author_facet Madan Mohan Ballal
K. J. C. Chidanand
Vijendra Yadav
Akshay Dhanda
Chetan Nagaraja
Sachin K. Gowda
author_sort Madan Mohan Ballal
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (MDACL) is a poorly understood entity. The collection of mucinous material in the substance of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) produces pain and thus limits motion in the knee. This study involves clinic-radiological presentation of patients with mucoid ACL, arthroscopic de-bulking of ACL and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between September 2021 and October 2022, 24 patients were diagnosed with MDACL. All cases were examined clinically followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) then confirmed by arthroscopy findings and then were sent for histopathology reporting. Clinical data, including pain location, terminal flexion or extension pain, range of motion, Lysholm knee score, and International Knee Documentation Committee score, were assessed pre- and postoperatively. MRI showing an increased signal of the ACL in T1-and T2-weighted images was reported as mucoid degeneration of the ACL by the radiologist. Upon arthroscopy, the ACL had a homogenous, bulbous, hypertrophied, and taut appearance occupying most of the intercondylar notch space. Debulking of the ACL was performed by excision of the degenerated mucoid tissue, leaving behind as much of the intact ACL as possible, and notchplasty helped prevent impingement of the ACL against the roof and lateral wall. Unfortunately, in 4 (16.67%) patients, we had to reconstruct the ligament due to the ACL insufficiency to stabilize the knee. Results: Thirteen patients were males (54.17%), and eleven (45.83%) patients were females, with a mean age of 36.7 years for males (range 19–63 years) and 41.7 years for females (range 28–73 years). All patients had pain in deep flexion, with 70.8% (n = 1 7) reporting trivial trauma before the onset of symptoms. On terminal flexion/extension, pain relief was obtained in 19 of 20 knees, ranging from good to excellent. Stability tests for ACL showed a firm endpoint in all. GNRB arthrometer examination revealed a tibial translation comparable to the noninvolved side, and 85% (n = 20) showed good to excellent subjective satisfaction. Conclusions: Prior knowledge of the condition with a high suspicion index and careful MRI interpretation can establish the diagnosis preoperatively. They respond well to a judicious arthroscopic debulking of the ACL with or without notchplasty, improving patient satisfaction and function without causing clinical instability in daily activities. However, young patients should be forewarned about the risk of instability, and the necessity of ACL reconstruction in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-5eb4785ae18243c390fa74354c0617ed2025-01-07T07:23:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of the Scientific Society0974-50092278-71272024-12-0151455455810.4103/jss.jss_268_22Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate LigamentMadan Mohan BallalK. J. C. ChidanandVijendra YadavAkshay DhandaChetan NagarajaSachin K. GowdaIntroduction: Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (MDACL) is a poorly understood entity. The collection of mucinous material in the substance of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) produces pain and thus limits motion in the knee. This study involves clinic-radiological presentation of patients with mucoid ACL, arthroscopic de-bulking of ACL and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between September 2021 and October 2022, 24 patients were diagnosed with MDACL. All cases were examined clinically followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) then confirmed by arthroscopy findings and then were sent for histopathology reporting. Clinical data, including pain location, terminal flexion or extension pain, range of motion, Lysholm knee score, and International Knee Documentation Committee score, were assessed pre- and postoperatively. MRI showing an increased signal of the ACL in T1-and T2-weighted images was reported as mucoid degeneration of the ACL by the radiologist. Upon arthroscopy, the ACL had a homogenous, bulbous, hypertrophied, and taut appearance occupying most of the intercondylar notch space. Debulking of the ACL was performed by excision of the degenerated mucoid tissue, leaving behind as much of the intact ACL as possible, and notchplasty helped prevent impingement of the ACL against the roof and lateral wall. Unfortunately, in 4 (16.67%) patients, we had to reconstruct the ligament due to the ACL insufficiency to stabilize the knee. Results: Thirteen patients were males (54.17%), and eleven (45.83%) patients were females, with a mean age of 36.7 years for males (range 19–63 years) and 41.7 years for females (range 28–73 years). All patients had pain in deep flexion, with 70.8% (n = 1 7) reporting trivial trauma before the onset of symptoms. On terminal flexion/extension, pain relief was obtained in 19 of 20 knees, ranging from good to excellent. Stability tests for ACL showed a firm endpoint in all. GNRB arthrometer examination revealed a tibial translation comparable to the noninvolved side, and 85% (n = 20) showed good to excellent subjective satisfaction. Conclusions: Prior knowledge of the condition with a high suspicion index and careful MRI interpretation can establish the diagnosis preoperatively. They respond well to a judicious arthroscopic debulking of the ACL with or without notchplasty, improving patient satisfaction and function without causing clinical instability in daily activities. However, young patients should be forewarned about the risk of instability, and the necessity of ACL reconstruction in the future.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jss.jss_268_22anterior cruciate ligamentarthroscopic debridementmucoid degenerationnotchplasty
spellingShingle Madan Mohan Ballal
K. J. C. Chidanand
Vijendra Yadav
Akshay Dhanda
Chetan Nagaraja
Sachin K. Gowda
Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Journal of the Scientific Society
anterior cruciate ligament
arthroscopic debridement
mucoid degeneration
notchplasty
title Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
title_full Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
title_fullStr Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
title_short Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Management of Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
title_sort clinical outcome of arthroscopic management of mucoid degeneration of anterior cruciate ligament
topic anterior cruciate ligament
arthroscopic debridement
mucoid degeneration
notchplasty
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jss.jss_268_22
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