Complications in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The success of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery is influenced by patient characteristics,
technical factors related to the surgery, and the pre-surgery condition of the joint. Possible complications include
arthrofibrosis, graft re-rupture, cystic degeneration of the bone tunnel, meniscal tear or re-tear, failure of surgical material,
and infectious inflammatory changes. Objective: To provide a detailed review of the factors associated with complications
in ACL reconstruction surgery at Clinica Internacional. Materials and Methods: Observational, retrospective, longitudinal,
and descriptive approach. Data was collected from medical records and imaging systems. Results: The patient population for ACL reconstruction surgery was 258 individuals. The final sample included 57 patients with complications who had post-surgery magnetic resonance imaging. 91.17% of the cases were male. The predominant age range was 30-39 years, accounting for 43.86%. Seven cases (12.28%) of improper bone tunnel positioning were observed. The most frequent associated complication was graft re-rupture (54.39%), followed by meniscal re-tear and/or tear (50.88%). Conclusions:
Understanding the complications and factors contributing to graft failure is crucial for addressing modifiable elements. It is
important to emphasize the significance of identifying improper bone tunnel positioning, as it is the main technical factor leading to graft failure.