Comparison of femoral tunnel length between transportal and retrograde reaming outside-in techniques in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Jae Gyoon Kim, Joon Ho Wang, Jin Hwan Ahn, Hak Jun Kim, Hong Chul Lim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative femoral tunnel length measurement and to compare this between the transportal (TP) and outside-in (OI) techniques for double-bundle (DB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: Eighty patients underwent a DB ACL reconstruction using either the TP or the OI technique. The participants were randomized to either a TP group (I, 40 cases) or a OI group (II, 40 cases). The intraoperatively measured femoral tunnel length was recorded, and the postoperative femoral tunnel length was measured using computed tomography with OsiriX® imaging software. Results: The mean femoral tunnel lengths measured intraoperatively in Group II (38. 9 ± 3. 0 mm for anteromedial [AM], 39. 3 ± 3. 4 mm for posterolateral [PL]) were significantly longer than those of Group I (34. 8 ± 2. 7 mm for AM, 36. 0 ± 3. 2 mm for PL) (P < 0. 001). The mean AM femoral tunnel length measured postoperatively in Group II (33. 3 ± 3. 8 mm) was significantly longer than that in Group I (31. 1 ± 2. 9 mm) (P = 0. 006). The mean intraoperatively measured femoral tunnel length was significantly longer than that measured postoperatively in Groups I and II (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: After anatomic DB ACL reconstruction, the femoral tunnel length of the OI technique measured intraoperatively (AM/PL) and postoperatively (AM) was longer than those of the TP technique. The femoral tunnel length measured intraoperatively was longer than that measured postoperatively in both TP and OI technique. This study may help surgeons to measure femoral tunnel length accurately in anatomic DB ACL reconstruction with suspensory fixation device. Level of evidence: Prospective randomized controlled trial, Level I.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)830-838
Number of pages9
JournalKnee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Apr
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anterior cruciate ligament
  • Femoral tunnel length
  • Outside-in
  • Retrograde reaming
  • Transportal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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