Variability in Elongation and Failure of the Medial Collateral Ligament After Pie-Crusting With 16-and 18-Gauge Needles

摘要

Background: In knee arthroplasty with preoperative varus deformity, medial collateral ligament (MCL) release may be needed to achieve balance. Pie-crusting allows for controlled release, but questions remain regarding its ability to obtain predictable results. We compared 16-vs18-gauge needle punctures and determined the number of punctures required to (1) lengthen the MCL by 1 mm and (2) cause ligament failure.