Clinical importance of femoral and tibial tunnel localizations in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of femoral and tibial tunnel localizations on knee functions after arthroscopic single bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to contribute to the definition of the ideal tunnel localizations for the best results.
Patients and methods: Thirty knees of 30 patients (29 males, 1 female; mean age 28.4 years; range 20 to 43 years) who underwent hamstring autograft reconstruction with the transfemoral fixation technique due to isolated complete rupture of the ACL were retrospectively evaluated. All of the operations were performed by the same surgeons and in the same institution. Tunnel localizations were defined according to the Harner Quadrant method in the post operative period. Mean follow-up period was 19.6 months and postoperative Lysholm knee scores and joint range of motion values were noted. The correlation between tunnel parameters and the scores were statistically evaluated.
Results: When all parameters were considered it was found out that the tunnel localizations in the sagittal tibial plane solely and independently had a significant effect on knee functions.
Conclusion: It was concluded that especially the tibial tunnel located sagittally in the anterior second half of the plateau improves the knee functional scores after ACL reconstruction.