Role of placental membrane in ACL graft healing - A series of 18 patients.

INTRODUCTION: ACL injuries are common and the standard treatment remains to be ACL reconstruction. Controversy still remains around graft ligamentisation and various methods have been experimented to augment this process. In this series we discuss the outcome of using dehydrated umbilical cord derived membrane in ACL reconstruction.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective Level IV analysis of outcome in 30 consecutive patients of complete isolated ACL tear presenting to us between May 2022 to September 2022 was done. There was no age or sex restriction. Revision cases were excluded from this series. ACL reconstruction was done using standard all inside technique using the ipsilateral semitendinosus graft which was wrapped with dehydrated umbilical cord derived membrane (5*3 cm2) after soaking in normal saline (Cord Thick - Life Cell; LifeCell international private limited, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) and secured with Monocryl 3-0 sutures in a continuous manner.

RESULTS: 18 patients completed the one year follow up and were analysed for final results. Eleven of the patients followed up were females and seven males, with an average age of 30.3 years.The average VAS score at 6 weeks was 2.2. The mean KOOS score at the follow up visits were 72.3, 82.3, 90.7, 95.8. The mean SANE score reported at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year were 68.8, 80, 87.5, 95.1.The follow up MRI's confirmed good ligamentisation of the graft even as early as 6 weeks with minimal fluid in the tunnel.

CONCLUSION: The use of dehydrated umbilical cord derived membrane augmentation to potentiate graft integration in ACL reconstruction seems promising and helps improve patient outcomes.