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Various uses of posterior knee arthroscopy have been shown, including all-inside repair of posterior meniscal lesions, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction or PCL avulsion fixation, extensile posterior knee synovectomy for pigmented villonodular synovitis or synovial chondromatosis, posterior capsular release in the setting of knee flexion contractures, and loose bodies removal. Posterior arthroscopy provides direct access to the posterior meniscal borders for adequate abrasion and fibrous tissue removal. This direct view of the knee posterior structures enables the surgeon to create a stronger biomechanical repair using vertical mattress sutures. During PCL reconstruction, posterior arthroscopy gives the surgeon proper double access to the tibial insertion site, which can result in less acute curve angles and the creation of a more anatomic tibial tunnel. Moreover, it gives the best opportunity to preserve the PCL remnant. Arthroscopic PCL avulsion fixation is more time-consuming with a larger cost burden compared to open approaches, but in the case of other concomitant intra-articular injuries, it may lead to a better chance of a return to pre-injury activities. The high learning curve and overcaution of neuromuscular injury have discouraged surgeons from practicing posterior knee arthroscopy using posterior portals. Evidence for using posterior portals by experienced surgeons suggests fewer complications. The evidence suggests toward learning posterior knee arthroscopy, and this technique must be part of the education about arthroscopy. In today's professional sports world, where the quick and complete return of athletes to their professional activities is irreplaceable, the use of posterior knee arthroscopy is necessary.

Purpose: To present the arthroscopic "PCL envelope lack sign" (PELS) and to calculate its diagnostic characteristics in chronic PCL insufficiency. Methods: Recordings of knee arthroscopies performed in a single clinic between April 2015 to March 2020 were retrospectively evaluated, searching for the "PCL envelope". It was defined as a "soft tissue cuff coursing around the PCL tibial attachment, visible with the arthroscope positioned between the PCL, medial femoral condyle and posterior horn of the medial meniscus at the level of its shiny white fibers". PELS was defined as "the PCL adhering to the proximal tibia adjacent to the medial meniscal posterior root attachment, inability to observe the normal space between the PCL and posterior tibia and no soft tissue cuff around the PCL tibial attachment". Inclusion criteria were possibility to evaluate the PELS presence on recordings. Patients who underwent PCL reconstruction were assigned to the study group. The rest of the patients were controls. Criteria to operate on symptomatic PCL patients were at least 5 mm of posterior instability in physical examination and at least 6 months post-injury. Results: Out of 614 available recordings, 592 patients (205 females, 387 males; mean age 45.2 years, SD = 14.36, range 14–81) were included: 38 in the study group and 554 in the control group. In the study group, PELS was positive in 36 of 38 cases (94.7%). In the control group, PELS was negative in 554 PCL-efficient patients (100%). Calculated PELS sensitivity was 94.7%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 99.6%. The PELS was present significantly more often in PCL-insufficient patients, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The PCL envelope lack sign was found to be a highly effective tool to arthroscopically confirm chronic PCL insufficiency, and should be considered a direct sign of chronic posterior knee instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present the arthroscopic “PCL envelope lack sign” (PELS) and to calculate its diagnostic characteristics in chronic PCL insufficiency. Methods: Recordings of knee arthroscopies performed in a single clinic between April 2015 to March 2020 were retrospectively evaluated, searching for the “PCL envelope”. It was defined as a “soft tissue cuff coursing around the PCL tibial attachment, visible with the arthroscope positioned between the PCL, medial femoral condyle and posterior horn of the medial meniscus at the level of its shiny white fibers”. PELS was defined as “the PCL adhering to the proximal tibia adjacent to the medial meniscal posterior root attachment, inability to observe the normal space between the PCL and posterior tibia and no soft tissue cuff around the PCL tibial attachment”. Inclusion criteria were possibility to evaluate the PELS presence on recordings. Patients who underwent PCL reconstruction were assigned to the study group. The rest of the patients were controls. Criteria to operate on symptomatic PCL patients were at least 5 mm of posterior instability in physical examination and at least 6 months post-injury. Results: Out of 614 available recordings, 592 patients (205 females, 387 males; mean age 45.2 years, SD = 14.36, range 14–81) were included: 38 in the study group and 554 in the control group. In the study group, PELS was positive in 36 of 38 cases (94.7%). In the control group, PELS was negative in 554 PCL-efficient patients (100%). Calculated PELS sensitivity was 94.7%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 99.6%. The PELS was present significantly more often in PCL-insufficient patients, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The PCL envelope lack sign was found to be a highly effective tool to arthroscopically confirm chronic PCL insufficiency, and should be considered a direct sign of chronic posterior knee instability.