Return to National Basketball Association Competition Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Fibular Collateral Ligament Injuries: A Case Report

Case: Numerous outcome studies regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction demonstrate the ability of athletes to return to a high level of play. However, to our knowledge, there is limited literature regarding return to play following injury to both the ACL and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL). We describe the case of a National Basketball Association (NBA) player who sustained a combined ACL and FCL knee injury and subsequently underwent surgical reconstruction of both affected ligaments. He was able to return to a preinjury level of competition at 9 months postoperatively. Conclusion: It is possible for athletes to return to competitive basketball and maintain a high production level following a single-staged reconstruction of both the ACL and the FCL.

[1]  L. Engebretsen,et al.  Intertunnel Relationships in the Tibia During Reconstruction of Multiple Knee Ligaments , 2016, The American journal of sports medicine.

[2]  Karen G Roos,et al.  Injuries sustained in National Collegiate Athletic Association men's and women's basketball, 2009/2010–2014/2015 , 2016, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

[3]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Outcomes following anatomic fibular (lateral) collateral ligament reconstruction , 2015, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[4]  L. Engebretsen,et al.  Improving outcomes for posterolateral knee injuries , 2014, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[5]  Joshua D. Harris,et al.  Return-to-Sport and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in National Basketball Association Players , 2013, Sports health.

[6]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Fibular Collateral Ligament Anatomical Reconstructions , 2010, The American journal of sports medicine.

[7]  C. Starkey,et al.  Performance outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the National Basketball Association. , 2009, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[8]  Bradley J Nelson,et al.  Biomechanical Analysis of an Isolated Fibular (Lateral) Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Using an Autogenous Semitendinosus Graft , 2007, The American journal of sports medicine.

[9]  John Hollinger,et al.  Pro Basketball Forecast , 2004 .

[10]  L. Engebretsen,et al.  The Posterolateral Attachments of the Knee , 2003, The American journal of sports medicine.

[11]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Diagnosis and treatment of posterolateral knee injuries. , 2002, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[12]  R. LaPrade,et al.  The Effect of Injury to the Posterolateral Structures of the Knee on Force in a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Graft , 2002, The American journal of sports medicine.

[13]  T W Rudy,et al.  In-situ force in the medial and lateral structures of intact and ACL-deficient knees , 2000, Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association.

[14]  C. Starkey,et al.  Injuries and illnesses in the national basketball association: a 10-year perspective. , 2000, Journal of athletic training.

[15]  J. Lewis,et al.  The Effects of Grade III Posterolateral Knee Complex Injuries on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Force , 1999, The American journal of sports medicine.

[16]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Injuries to the Posterolateral Aspect of the Knee , 1997, The American journal of sports medicine.

[17]  T. Wickiewicz,et al.  Reconstruction of the chronically insufficient anterior cruciate ligament with the central third of the patellar ligament. , 1991, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[18]  R. Warren,et al.  The role of the posterolateral and cruciate ligaments in the stability of the human knee. A biomechanical study. , 1987, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[19]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Surgical Management and Treatment of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament/Posterolateral Corner Injured Knee. , 2017, Clinics in sports medicine.

[20]  R. Rossi,et al.  Treatment of medial and posteromedial knee instability: indications, techniques, and review of the results. , 2012, The Iowa orthopaedic journal.

[21]  F. Noyes,et al.  Limits of movement in the human knee. Effect of sectioning the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral structures. , 1988, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.