Ligaments

The surgical treatment of the knee ligament apparatus is subject to constant change. In addition to the proven gold standards in the treatment of the ACL and PCL using autologous tendons, ligament-preserving techniques have become established. The so-called ligament bracing is of great importance in the acute treatment of cruciate ligaments, but also in the context of multiligament injuries. The correct indication and patient education are crucial for this surgical technique. Although there are still good short-term results, long-term results are still pending. In the treatment of the anterior cruciate ligament, the trend towards individualized graft selection is evident. In addition to hamstring tendons, the use of quadriceps tendon is gaining ground. The concept of double-bundle reconstruction is also being abandoned more and more and is reserved for individual cases. This also applies to the posterior cruciate ligament. In the treatment of peripheral ligaments, ligament bracing is only used in acute situations in addition to surgical treatment with a tendon graft. Particularly in the lateral ligament complex, better results are seen with a tendon graft in the primary treatment. Donor tendons are being used more and more, especially in the treatment of chronic instability or in connection with a multiligament injury. In addition to careful diagnostics, good surgical planning and patient education are essential in the treatment of knee ligament injuries in order to achieve a good result in the end.