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Risk Factors for Symptomatic Cyclops Lesion Formation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the incidence of symptomatic cyclops lesions requiring surgical treatment after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to establish possible intraoperative risk factors related to it.

Methods

Three hundred and eighty-nine patients aged between 18 and 50 years who underwent primary ACL reconstruction were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into groups according to the presence or absence of symptomatic cyclops lesions, and their characteristics were compared. Patients with associated lesions that required additional surgical procedures (except anterolateral extra-articular procedures) were not included. The rate of symptomatic cyclops lesions was recorded and the following parameters were evaluated: age, gender, time from injury to surgery, graft type and diameter, femoral tunnel perforation technique, fixation type, presence of knee hyperextension, preservation of the ACL remnant, associated anterolateral extra-articular procedure, associated meniscal injury and participation in sports.

Results

389 patients were evaluated and 26 (6.7%) patients developed cyclops. The patients with and without cyclops lesions did not differ in age, time from injury to surgery, graft type or diameter, surgical technique, femoral fixation method, presence of knee hyperextension, remnant preservation and associated meniscal injury. The group with cyclops lesion had a higher proportion of females (10 (38.4%) vs 68 (18.7%); OR = 2.7; p= 0.015), higher proportion of extra-articular reconstruction (18 (11.8%) vs 8 (3.4%); OR = 3.8; p= 0.001) and higher proportion of sports practice (23 (8.6%) vs 3 (2.5%); OR = 3.6; p= 0.026).

Conclusion

In our series, 6.7% of the patients required arthroscopic removal of cyclops lesions. Female gender, associated extra-articular reconstruction and sports practice were factors related to this lesion. Remnant preservation had no relationship with cyclops lesion formation.

Keywords
anterior cruciate ligament; cyclops; knee joint; ligaments, articular; range of motion, articular

Resumo

Objetivo

Avaliar a incidência de lesões cyclops sintomáticas que precisam de tratamento cirúrgico após a reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) e estabelecer os possíveis fatores de risco intraoperatórios relacionados a elas.

Métodos

Trezentos e oitenta e nove pacientes com idades entre 18 e 50 anos submetidos à reconstrução primária do LCA foram avaliados de forma retrospectiva. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos de acordo com a presença ou ausência de lesões cyclops sintomáticas e suas características foram comparadas. Não foram incluídos pacientes com lesões associadas que necessitassem de outros procedimentos cirúrgicos (à exceção de procedimentos extra-articulares ântero-laterais). A taxa de lesões cyclops sintomáticas foi registrada e os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: idade, sexo, tempo da lesão à cirurgia, tipo e diâmetro do enxerto, técnica de perfuração do túnel femoral, tipo de fixação, presença de hiperextensão do joelho, preservação do LCA remanescente, associação a procedimento extra-articular ântero-lateral, lesão de menisco associada e participação em esportes.

Resultados

Dos 389 pacientes avaliados, 26 (6,7%) desenvolveram lesão cyclops. Os pacientes com e sem lesão cyclops não diferiram quanto à idade, tempo da lesão à cirurgia, tipo ou diâmetro do enxerto, técnica cirúrgica, método de fixação femoral, presença de hiperextensão do joelho, preservação do LCA remanescente e lesão de menisco associada. O grupo com lesão cyclops apresentou mais mulheres (10 [38,4%] vs. 68 [18,7%]; razão de probabilidades [OR] = 2,7; p= 0,015), maior proporção de reconstrução extra-articular (18 [11,8%] vs. 8 [3,4 %]; OR = 3,8; p= 0,001) e maior proporção de prática esportiva (23 [8,6%] vs. 3 [2,5%]; OR = 3,6; p= 0,026).

Conclusão

Em nossa série, 6,7% dos pacientes necessitaram de remoção artroscópica das lesões cyclops. O sexo feminino, a reconstrução extra-articular associada e a prática esportiva foram fatores relacionados a essa lesão. A preservação do menisco remanescente não foi associada à formação de lesões cyclops.

Palavras-chave
amplitude de movimento articular; articulação do joelho; cyclops; ligamento cruzado anterior; ligamentos articulares

Introduction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are very common among sport practitioners.11 Fu FH, Bennett CH, Ma CB, Menetrey J, Lattermann C. Current trends in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Part II. Operative procedures and clinical correlations. Am J Sports Med 2000; 28(01):124–130 In most cases, the indicated treatment is the reconstruction of this structure, although modern repair techniques and even conservative treatment can be employed in special situations.22 Chahla J, Nelson T, Dallo I, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament repair versus reconstruction: A kinematic analysis. Knee 2020;27(02): 334–340,33 Gföller P, Abermann E, Runer A, et al. Non-operative treatment of ACL injury is associated with opposing subjective and objective outcomes over 20 years of follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2019;27(08):2665–2671 Several techniques and graft types can be used for reconstruction procedures, with risks and benefits, as well as possible complications and need to reoperations, inherent to each technique.44 Robin BN, Jani SS, Marvil SC, Reid JB, Schillhammer CK, Lubowitz JH. Advantages and Disadvantages of Transtibial, Anteromedial Portal, and Outside-In Femoral Tunnel Drilling in Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy 2015;31(07):1412–1417 Symptomatic cyclops lesions are one reason for reoperation after an ACL reconstruction.55 Kartus J, Magnusson L, Stener S, Brandsson S, Eriksson BI, Karlsson J. Complications following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A 2-5-year follow-up of 604 patients with special emphasis on anterior knee pain. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 1999;7(01):2–8,66 Thaunat M, Clowez G, Saithna A, et al. Reoperation rates after combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction: a series of 548 patients from the SANTI Study group with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Am J Sports Med 2017;45(11):2569–2577

A cyclops lesion is a fibrous nodule formation anterior to the reconstructed ACL graft that may or may not be symptomatic.77 Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508 A study by Facchetti et al.77 Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508 using imaging exams showed that although cyclops lesions were present in up to 25% of patients at 6 months of follow-up, most lesions did not cause functional impairment. In symptomatic cases, the most common symptoms are anterior knee pain, joint effusion and final knee extension loss.88 Nagira K, Enokida M, Hayashi I, Ishida K, Kanaya H, Nagashima H. A Simple Method to Reduce the Incidence of Cyclops Lesion after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. J Knee Surg 2021;34 (05):546–551 Surgery to treat this lesion may be necessary in 1 to 10% of patients after ACL reconstruction.99 Fujii M, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, et al. Intercondylar notch size influences cyclops formation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015;23 (04):1092–1099,1010 Kambhampati SBS, Gollamudi S, Shanmugasundaram S, Josyula VVS. Cyclops Lesions of the Knee: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Orthop J Sports Med 2020;8(08):2325967120945671

Recent studies have found possible risk factors for this nodular formation, such as extension loss at the time of ACL reconstruction or during the initial postoperative period due to quadriceps inhibition, a narrow intercondylar notch or tibial tunnel malpositioning.99 Fujii M, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, et al. Intercondylar notch size influences cyclops formation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015;23 (04):1092–1099,1111 Noailles T, Chalopin A, Boissard M, Lopes R, Bouguennec N, Hardy A. Incidence and risk factors for cyclops syndrome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019;105(07):1401–1405,1212 Delaloye JR, Murar J, Vieira TD, et al. Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(03):565–572 The role of other intraoperative variables, such as preservation of the remnant of the original injured ligament, different grafts or techniques and associated extra-articular reconstruction, are controversial according to the literature.1111 Noailles T, Chalopin A, Boissard M, Lopes R, Bouguennec N, Hardy A. Incidence and risk factors for cyclops syndrome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019;105(07):1401–1405 Associated procedures, such as meniscal repairs, are also possible confounding variables because they can lead to changes in rehabilitation.1313 Bierke S, Abdelativ Y, Hees T, et al. Risk of arthrofibrosis in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: the role of timing and meniscus suture. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2021; 141(05):743–750

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the incidence of symptomatic cyclops lesions requiring surgery and to establish possible intraoperative risk factors, excluding occasional technical errors or associated procedures, that lead to changes in rehabilitation. We hypothesize that no risk factor will be associated with this lesion, including remnant preservation.

Materials and Methods

The study was approved by the ethics committee of our institution, and informed consent was obtained. Three hundred and eighty-nine patients aged between 18 and 50 years who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between January 2014 and January 2019 were retrospectively evaluated, although data collection was prospectively performed. Patients with associated lesions that required additional surgical procedures, such as osteotomies and the reconstruction of other ligaments (except extra-articular anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction or iliotibial tract tenodesis associated with the ACL that did not interfere with postoperative rehabilitation) and those who underwent treatment for cartilage injuries or meniscal repairs were not included as these procedures could affect postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up. Only patients who had full range of motion during the preoperative period underwent reconstruction. During the immediate postoperative period, the patients underwent frontal and lateral radiography, and cases in which the tibial tunnel was malpositioned were excluded (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
Flow chart of the study.

Symptomatic cyclops lesions were defined as the presence of anterior knee pain and confirmed final extension loss with the visualization of nodulation on magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent arthroscopy (Fig. 2). Patients with clinical symptomatology without nodulation or fibrosis in the region anterior to the ACL were not considered to have cyclops lesions. Patients were divided into groups according to the presence or absence of symptomatic cyclops lesions, and their characteristics were compared.

Fig. 2
Magnetic resonance imaging of a right knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction showing a cyclops lesion (indicated by the arrow).

The following parameters were evaluated: age, gender, time from injury to surgery, graft type used and graft diameter, femoral tunnel perforation technique (transportal or outside-in), fixation type used for the femur and tibia, presence of knee hyperextension (defined as hyperextension greater than 5 degrees), preservation of the ACL remnant in the tibia at the time of surgery, associated anterolateral extra-articular procedure (iliotibial tract tenodesis or ALL reconstruction), associated meniscal injury and participation in sports activity.

In the patients who underwent remnant preservation, the ACL graft was passed through the inside and not through the side of the tibial remnant so that the remnant fibers functioned as a scaffold, and the fibers of the ACL remnant of the femur were detached to prepare the femoral tunnel.1414 Sonnery-Cottet B, Freychet B, Murphy CG, Pupim BH, Thaunat M. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Preservation: The Single-Anteromedial Bundle Biological Augmentation (SAMBBA) Technique. Arthrosc Tech 2014;3(06):e689–e693 Selective single-bundle reconstructions (anteromedial or posterolateral) were not performed in this series. After the guide wire was passed through the tibia, a drill was used at low rotation to avoid damaging the fibers of the remnant. Abundant cleaning was performed with the shaver blade inside the remnant to avoid the accumulation of debris originating from the tibial tunnel.77 Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508

All patients followed the same rehabilitation protocol without postoperative immobilization. Partial weight-bearing with two crutches was allowed starting on the first postoperative day, with progression to full weight-bearing as tolerated. Range of motion exercises were also stimulated starting on the first postoperative day.

Statistical Analysis

Numerical variables are described as mean and standard deviation, and categorical variables are described as absolute numbers and percentages within the group. Numerical variables were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. For categorical variables, Fisher's exact test or the chi-square test was used in the respective contingency tables, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated.

Results

Twenty-six (6.7%) patients developed cyclops lesion. The patients with and without cyclops lesions did not differ in age, time from injury to surgery, graft type or diameter used for ACL reconstruction, surgical technique used to create the femoral tunnel, femoral fixation method, presence of knee hyperextension, remnant preservation and associated meniscal injury (Table 1). All patients underwent tibial fixation with interference screws, so it was not possible to perform a statistical analysis of this variable.

Table 1
Characteristics of the groups

The group with cyclops lesion had a higher proportion of female patients (10 (38.4%) vs 68 (18.7%); OR = 2.7; p= 0.015). Eighteen (11.8%) patients who underwent associated extra-articular reconstruction developed a cyclops lesion, compared with only 8 (3.4%) patients who underwent intra-articular reconstruction alone (OR = 3.8; p= 0.001). Sports practice was also related to the presence of symptomatic cyclops lesion, and 23 (8.6%) patients who developed cyclops lesion practised some sport, compared with only 3 (2.5%) who did not practice any sport (OR = 3.6; p= 0.026).

Discussion

The main finding of this study is that, after ACL reconstruction, the factors related to an increased likelihood of the formation of symptomatic cyclops lesion requiring resection are female gender, associated extra-articular reconstruction and sports practice. Preservation of the tibial ACL remnant was not a risk factor for this type of lesion. This finding contradicts our initial hypothesis that no risk factor would be significantly associated with the occurrence of this type of lesion.

Noailles et al.1111 Noailles T, Chalopin A, Boissard M, Lopes R, Bouguennec N, Hardy A. Incidence and risk factors for cyclops syndrome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019;105(07):1401–1405 performed a systematic review of the incidence of and risk factors for cyclops lesions after ACL reconstruction. These authors identified an increased risk of cyclops lesion related to preoperative factors, such as knee inflammation and range of motion restriction; intraoperative factors, such as a narrow intercondylar notch and anterior malpositioning of the tibial tunnel; and postoperative factors, such as persistent hamstring spasm. Another recent review by Kambhampati et al.1010 Kambhampati SBS, Gollamudi S, Shanmugasundaram S, Josyula VVS. Cyclops Lesions of the Knee: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Orthop J Sports Med 2020;8(08):2325967120945671 found female sex, greater graft volume, bony avulsion injuries, excessively anterior tibial tunnel and double bundle reconstructions as risk factors. In the present study, some of these confounding factors related to cyclops formation were not analyzed because all patients underwent surgery only after achieving full range of motion, and patients with malpositioned tibial tunnels were excluded. Regarding extra-articular reconstructions, of the 10 studies included in the review performed by Noailles et al.,1111 Noailles T, Chalopin A, Boissard M, Lopes R, Bouguennec N, Hardy A. Incidence and risk factors for cyclops syndrome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019;105(07):1401–1405 only the one by Pinto et al.1515 Pinto FG, Thaunat M, Daggett M, et al. Hamstring contracture after ACL reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of cyclops syndrome. . [published correction appears in Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(2):2325967117697677]Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(01): 2325967116684121 included this variable. However, unlike the present study, that study did not find a relationship between this variable and an increased risk of cyclops lesion. Kambhampati et al. did not mention extra-articular procedures in their review.

We believe that we found a correlation between extra-articular reconstruction and cyclops lesion formation because these patients may eventually present increased postoperative pain, especially in cases of iliotibial tract tenodesis, which can cause increased quadriceps inhibition and favors hamstrings contracture and consequently knee flexion, which in turn creates conditions that favor the formation of cyclops lesion in the space between the ACL graft and the intercondylar notch.1212 Delaloye JR, Murar J, Vieira TD, et al. Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(03):565–572 Delaloye et al.,1212 Delaloye JR, Murar J, Vieira TD, et al. Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(03):565–572 in turn, showed in a series of 3,633 patients that the only risk factor associated with cyclops lesion was an extension deficit during the initial postoperative period, suggesting that this lack of extension could be caused by arthrogenic muscle inhibition.1616 Getgood AMJ, Bryant DM, Litchfield R, et al; STABILITY Study Group. Lateral extra-articular tenodesis reduces failure of hamstring tendon autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: 2-year outcomes from the STABILITY Study Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(02):285–297 Thaunat et al.,66 Thaunat M, Clowez G, Saithna A, et al. Reoperation rates after combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction: a series of 548 patients from the SANTI Study group with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Am J Sports Med 2017;45(11):2569–2577 in a recent series that evaluated the reoperation rate after combined intra- and extra-articular reconstruction, also did not find a greater number of complications in cases in which associated anterolateral procedures were performed. Thus, our finding that a higher risk of cyclops lesions was related to extra-articular procedures is unprecedented and contradictory with the literature on extra-articular reconstructions, as this complication was not frequently reported in any of the existing studies of extra-articular reconstruction.1717 Sonnery-Cottet B, Saithna A, Quelard B, et al. Arthrogenic muscle inhibition after ACL reconstruction: a scoping review of the efficacy of interventions. [published correction appears in Br J Sports Med. 2019 Dec;53(23):e8]Br J Sports Med 2019;53(05): 289–298

18 Porter M, Shadbolt B. Modified iliotibial band tenodesis is indicated to correct intraoperative residual pivot shift after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using an autologous hamstring tendon graft: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(05):1069–1077

19 Saithna A, Daggett M, Helito CP, et al. Clinical results of combined ACL and anterolateral ligament reconstruction: a narrative review from the SANTI study group. J Knee Surg 2021;34(09): 962–970

20 Hurley ET, Fried JW, Kingery MT, Strauss EJ, Alaia MJ. Anterolateral ligament reconstruction improves knee stability alongside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2021;29(03):764–771

21 Sonnery-Cottet B, Saithna A, Cavalier M, et al. Anterolateral Ligament reconstruction is associated with significantly reduced ACL graft rupture rates at a minimum follow-up of 2 years: a prospective comparative study of 502 patients from the SANTI study group. Am J Sports Med 2017;45(07):1547–1557
-2222 Helito CP, Sobrado MF, Giglio PN, et al. Combined reconstruction of the anterolateral ligament in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury and ligamentous hyperlaxity leads to better clinical stability and a lower failure rate than isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 2019;35(09): 2648–2654 We believe that this finding deserves to be studied in more detail in future series and should not currently be a factor for non-indication or changed indication for extra-articular procedures combined with ACL reconstruction.

There is no consensus regarding whether female gender is a risk factor for cyclops lesion formation. Our study, as well as those of Sanders et al.2323 Sanders TL, Kremers HM, Bryan AJ, Kremers WK, Stuart MJ, Krych AJ. Procedural intervention for arthrofibrosis after ACL reconstruction: trends over two decades. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2017;25(02):532–537 and Fujii et al.,99 Fujii M, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, et al. Intercondylar notch size influences cyclops formation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015;23 (04):1092–1099 found a relationship between female gender and cyclops lesion formation, unlike Facchetti et al.77 Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508 Possible reasons for the higher risk in women are reduced quadriceps strength, greater difficulty achieving extension and increased pain. It is important to advise female patients about this possibility during preoperative evaluation, especially in cases of major quadriceps strength deficit during the preoperative period.

Sports practice was also characterized as a risk factor for the formation of cyclops lesions. According to previous studies, most cyclops lesions are asymptomatic, and we believe that patients who play sports have a greater chance of perceiving symptoms in an existing injury due to the greater functional demands placed on the knee.77 Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508 We could not identify other factors that may be related to sports and the formation of this lesion, and the possibility that this could be a random finding cannot be discarded. Pinto et al.1515 Pinto FG, Thaunat M, Daggett M, et al. Hamstring contracture after ACL reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of cyclops syndrome. . [published correction appears in Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(2):2325967117697677]Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(01): 2325967116684121 found no association between professional athletes and cyclops lesion formation.

There is concern that the preservation of the ACL remnant may be a risk factor for cyclops lesions because the remnant occupies more space in the intercondylar area when combined with the reconstructed ligament graft.2424 Tie K, Chen L, Hu D, Wang H. The difference in clinical outcome of single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with and without remnant preservation: A meta-analysis. Knee 2016;23(04):566–574

25 Tanabe Y, Yasuda K, Kondo E, Kitamura N. Clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with ligament remnant tissue preservation: A systematic review. Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol 2016;4:1–8
-2626 Hu J, Qu J, Xu D, Zhang T, Zhou J, Lu H. Clinical outcomes of remnant preserving augmentation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2014;22(09):1976–1985 We believe that remnant preservation and the construction of the new ACL within this scaffold does not lead to an exaggerated increase in volume in the intercondylar area and, therefore, does not favor cyclops lesion formation.1414 Sonnery-Cottet B, Freychet B, Murphy CG, Pupim BH, Thaunat M. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Preservation: The Single-Anteromedial Bundle Biological Augmentation (SAMBBA) Technique. Arthrosc Tech 2014;3(06):e689–e693,2727 Ouanezar H, Blakeney WG, Fernandes LR, et al. Clinical outcomes of single anteromedial bundle biologic augmentation technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with consideration of tibial remnant size. Arthroscopy 2018;34(03):714–722 Our study did not find this association, nor did recent studies that used the same preservation technique.

A potentially important factor that could not be quantitatively assessed in the present study is the debridement from the tibial tunnel. We believe that using the shaver for proper cleaning of the tibial tunnel is of utmost importance and that no debris should be left between the graft and the remnant, and this approach was routinely performed in our reconstructions in an empirical manner. Iman et al.2828 Imam MA, Abdelkafy A, Dinah F, Adhikari A. Does bone debris in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction really matter? A cohort study of a protocol for bone debris debridement. SICOT J 2015;1:4 showed that there may be bone debris in up to 69% of patients after ACL reconstruction, and Nagira et al.88 Nagira K, Enokida M, Hayashi I, Ishida K, Kanaya H, Nagashima H. A Simple Method to Reduce the Incidence of Cyclops Lesion after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. J Knee Surg 2021;34 (05):546–551 showed that debridement can reduce cyclops lesions. We believe that in cases of remnant preservation, debris originating from the tibial tunnel may be left as it is difficult to visualize this bone debris because of the native ACL tissue covering the entrance to the tunnel, and this debris may help the formation of cyclops lesions.

The limitations of the present study include its retrospective nature, although the data were collected prospectively. Unfortunately, we did not assess postoperative pain in our study. Theoretically better pain control at the time of surgery and afterward, combined with preoperative quadriceps activation training, could possibly prevent or at least reduce loss of extension. This drawback may have been a confounding factor in the finding of extra-articular reconstruction as a risk factor for cyclops lesion. Potentially relevant factors, such as the presence of postoperative flexion and muscle activation, were also not measured, although all treated patients had full range of motion and activated quadriceps at the time of surgery. This factor should be considered in future analyses. The presence of few cases of reconstruction with tissue-bank tendons, reconstruction with quadricipital tendon and other methods of femoral fixation in addition to the endobutton and interference screw can also be considered limitations because they reduce the statistical power for evaluating these variables.

Conclusion

In our series, 6.7% of the patients required arthroscopic removal of cyclops lesions. Female gender, associated extra-articular reconstruction and sports practice were factors related to the presence of this lesion. Remnant preservation had no relationship with cyclops lesion formation.

  • Financial Support
    This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

References

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    Fu FH, Bennett CH, Ma CB, Menetrey J, Lattermann C. Current trends in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Part II. Operative procedures and clinical correlations. Am J Sports Med 2000; 28(01):124–130
  • 2
    Chahla J, Nelson T, Dallo I, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament repair versus reconstruction: A kinematic analysis. Knee 2020;27(02): 334–340
  • 3
    Gföller P, Abermann E, Runer A, et al. Non-operative treatment of ACL injury is associated with opposing subjective and objective outcomes over 20 years of follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2019;27(08):2665–2671
  • 4
    Robin BN, Jani SS, Marvil SC, Reid JB, Schillhammer CK, Lubowitz JH. Advantages and Disadvantages of Transtibial, Anteromedial Portal, and Outside-In Femoral Tunnel Drilling in Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy 2015;31(07):1412–1417
  • 5
    Kartus J, Magnusson L, Stener S, Brandsson S, Eriksson BI, Karlsson J. Complications following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A 2-5-year follow-up of 604 patients with special emphasis on anterior knee pain. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 1999;7(01):2–8
  • 6
    Thaunat M, Clowez G, Saithna A, et al. Reoperation rates after combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction: a series of 548 patients from the SANTI Study group with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Am J Sports Med 2017;45(11):2569–2577
  • 7
    Facchetti L, Schwaiger BJ, Gersing AS, et al; UCSF-P50-ACL Consortium AF-ACL Consortium. Cyclops lesions detected by MRI are frequent findings after ACL surgical reconstructionbutdo not impact clinical outcome over 2 years. Eur Radiol 2017;27(08):3499–3508
  • 8
    Nagira K, Enokida M, Hayashi I, Ishida K, Kanaya H, Nagashima H. A Simple Method to Reduce the Incidence of Cyclops Lesion after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. J Knee Surg 2021;34 (05):546–551
  • 9
    Fujii M, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, et al. Intercondylar notch size influences cyclops formation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015;23 (04):1092–1099
  • 10
    Kambhampati SBS, Gollamudi S, Shanmugasundaram S, Josyula VVS. Cyclops Lesions of the Knee: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Orthop J Sports Med 2020;8(08):2325967120945671
  • 11
    Noailles T, Chalopin A, Boissard M, Lopes R, Bouguennec N, Hardy A. Incidence and risk factors for cyclops syndrome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019;105(07):1401–1405
  • 12
    Delaloye JR, Murar J, Vieira TD, et al. Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database. Am J Sports Med 2020;48(03):565–572
  • 13
    Bierke S, Abdelativ Y, Hees T, et al. Risk of arthrofibrosis in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: the role of timing and meniscus suture. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2021; 141(05):743–750
  • 14
    Sonnery-Cottet B, Freychet B, Murphy CG, Pupim BH, Thaunat M. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Preservation: The Single-Anteromedial Bundle Biological Augmentation (SAMBBA) Technique. Arthrosc Tech 2014;3(06):e689–e693
  • 15
    Pinto FG, Thaunat M, Daggett M, et al. Hamstring contracture after ACL reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of cyclops syndrome. . [published correction appears in Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(2):2325967117697677]Orthop J Sports Med 2017;5(01): 2325967116684121
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    11 Dec 2023
  • Date of issue
    sep/oct 2023

History

  • Received
    27 July 2022
  • Accepted
    23 Nov 2022
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