Internal Bracing as a Biological ‘Safety Belt’ in Protected ACL Graft Survival After High-Impact Trauma in Revision Reconstruction: A Case Report
Abstract
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision surgeries remain challenging, with higher failure rates than primary reconstructions. This case report aims to demonstrate the clinical outcomes of revision ACL reconstruction using the Modified UKM Internal Bracing (MUIB) technique and evaluate its protective role in maintaining graft integrity after high-impact trauma. This case report describes a 37-year-old male with recurrent ACL graft failure who underwent revision reconstruction using the MUIB technique. Post-operatively, the patient achieved excellent knee stability with no functional limitations at the post-operative nine month. Following a high-energy motorcycle accident, a second-look arthroscopy after one year from the last reconstruction revealed only a small tear of the ACL graft and just one of the strands of MUIB ruptured. There was also no evidence of tunnel widening, a common complication in revision cases. These findings demonstrate that MUIB effectively protected the graft from complete failure despite significant trauma. Additionally, suture tape reinforcement using the MUIB technique improves outcomes in revision ACL reconstructions by preventing graft elongation, tunnel widening, and stress shielding while also providing protective reinforcement.
Abstract | Reference
