Objective To evaluate the specific application and effect of balance point fixation technique in arthroscopic fixation of avulsion fracture of anterior cruciate ligament.Methods The data of 65 patients with anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture treated by arthroscopy in Department of Orthopaedics, Panzhihua Central Hospital between June 2012 and June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether the balance point fixation technique was used or not, the patients were divided into routine operation group (group A, n=22) and balance point fixation group (group B, n=43). The operation time, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score, length of hospital stay, intraoperative bone re-fracture rate, incidences of limb swelling and deep venous thrombosis, Lysholm score and knee joint stability of the two groups were analyzed. Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used for nominal data. Independent samples t-test or paired samples t-test was used for measurement data. Rank sum test was used for ordinal data. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for repeated measurement data. Two-sided statistical significance level was set at α=0.05.Results There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex composition, fracture type, combined injury, time from injury to operation, preoperative VAS score, or Lysholm score between the two groups (P>0.05). The incisions of all patients healed in the first stage without incision complications. After adjustment, the reduction of fracture in group A was basically satisfactory, 4 cases (18.2%) had re-fracture; 1 case (2.3%) in group B had re-fracture due to poor bone condition, and group B was better than group A in re-fracture incidence (P=0.041). The operation time and length of hospital stay in group B were shorter than those in group A [(90.27±34.27) vs. (49.67±10.44) min,P<0.001; (8.09±1.23) vs. (5.35±1.07) d, P<0.001], the postoperative VAS score in group B was lower than that in group A (4.23±0.87 vs. 2.60±0.62, P<0.001), the degree of pain relief in group B was better than that in group A (3.32±1.29 vs. 4.44±1.50, P=0.004), the incidence of postoperative limb swelling in group B was lower than that in group A (22.7% vs. 4.7%, P<0.05); the difference in incidence of postoperative deep venous thrombosis between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). All patients were followed up for more than one year, the fractures healed completely, and the postoperative VAS score and Lysholm score at one year after operation were significantly improved compared with those before operation, but there was no significant difference in the postoperative 6-month Lysholm score, stability evaluation, or postoperative 1-year Lysholm score between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusions The balance point fixation technique plays a positive role in relieving postoperative pain, shortening operation time and average hospital stay, and reducing the incidence of complications by realizing the quantification of the best fixed point to reduce repeated operation and side injury. It can provide a technical reference for clinical work.

Citation： WU Feipeng, TANG Xin, TAO Hong, LAN Yuping, LI Jian. Evaluation of arthroscopic balance point fixation in the treatment of avulsion fracture of anterior cruciate ligament. West China Medical Journal, 2020, 35(10): 1205-1211. doi: 10.7507/1002-0179.202006149 Copy

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