McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Freddie Fu, M.D., professor and chairman of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, two dozen of the world’s top orthopaedic knee surgeons and scientists, and a participating audience of more than 200 orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists from around the world recently participated in the Panther Global Summit on Anatomic Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction. The Summit—the largest-of-its kind, international meeting to discuss the latest scientific knowledge and surgical advances for better knee ligament surgery, specifically the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—has the potential to change the way ACL surgery has been performed for the last 30 years.
The ACL is the main stabilizer of the knee. More than 200,000 young active people will undergo ACL reconstruction surgery this year alone in the U.S. Even though surgeons believe they knew how to adequately fix torn ACLs, recent outcome studies show that 60 to 90 percent of ACL surgery patients develop early onset of osteoarthritis and have less than desired knee stability and mobility.
Dr. Fu and his research team believe a new type of ACL reconstruction, called the “double-bundle,” will prove to be better for the patient because it more completely restores the knee’s natural anatomy and function, and may help prevent the early onset of osteoarthritis. An international pioneer in scientific research and clinical experience with the “double-bundle,” Dr. Fu has performed more than 500 of the new procedures, the most of any surgeon in the U.S.
The Panther Global Summit featured lively academic discussions among international leaders with the promise to challenge the traditional thinking of orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians. The Summit dialogue included:
• The anatomy and function of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the ACL.
• The effects of the injury and reconstruction to the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the ACL on the biomechanics and kinematics of the knee.
• New and emerging technologies to critically evaluate the outcome of anatomic double bundle ACL reconstruction.
• The advantages and techniques used to perform anatomic double bundle ACL reconstruction.
• Common pitfalls and complications of anatomic double bundle ACL reconstruction.
• The advantages and techniques to augment the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the ACL.
• The concept of anatomic double bundle ACL reconstruction to revise ACL surgery.
Illustration: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Read more…
Anatomic Double Bundle ACL Reconstruction Course Brochure
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (02/27/08)
KDKA w/video (02/28/08)
WSBT (03/03/08)