scholarly journals Anterior cruciate ligament femoral-tunnel drilling through an anteromedial portal: 3-dimensional plane drilling angle affects tunnel length relative to notchplasty

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Kyu Moon ◽  
Ho-Seung Jo ◽  
Dong-Yeong Lee ◽  
Dong-Geun Kang ◽  
Hee-Chan Won ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Femoral Tunnel ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Standard Technique ◽  
Axial Plane ◽  
Coronal Plane ◽  
Tunnel Length ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Abstract Background Notchplasty is a surgical technique often performed during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with widening of the intercondylar notch of the lateral distal femur to avoid graft impingement. The purpose of this study was to correlate femoral-tunnel length with 3-dimensional (3D) drilling angle through the anteromedial (AM) portal with and without notchplasty. Materials and methods Computer data were collected from an anatomical study using 16 cadaveric knees. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral insertion was dissected and outlined for gross anatomical observation. The dissected cadaveric knees were scanned by computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional measurements were calculated using software (Geomagic, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA) and included the center of the ACL footprint and the size of the ACL femoral footprint. The femoral-tunnel aperture centers were measured in the anatomical posterior-to-anterior and proximal-to-distal directions using Bernard’s quadrant method. The ACL tunnel was created 3-demensionally in the anatomical center of femoral foot print of ACL using software (SolidWorks®, Corp., Waltham, MA, USA). The 8-mm cylinder shaped ACL tunnel was rested upon the anatomical center of the ACL footprint and placed in three different positions: the coronal plane, the sagittal plane, and the axial plane. Finally, the effect of notchplasty on the femoral-tunnel length and center of the ACL footprint were measured. All the above-mentioned studies performed ACLR using the AM portal. Results The length of the femoral tunnels produced using the low coronal and high axial angles with 5-mm notchplasty became significantly shorter as the femoral starting position became more horizontal. The result was 30.38 ± 2.11 mm on average at 20° in the coronal plane/70° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane and 31.26 ± 2.08 mm at 30° in the coronal plane/60° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane, respectively, comparing the standard technique of 45° in the coronal/45° in the axial/45° in the sagittal plane of 32.98 ± 3.04 mm (P < 0.001). The tunnels made using the high coronal and low axial angles with notchplasty became longer than those made using the standard technique: 40.31 ± 3.36 mm at 60° in the coronal plane/30° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane and 50.46 ± 3.13 mm at 75° in the coronal plane/15° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane (P < 0.001). Conclusions Our results show that excessive notchplasty causes the femoral tunnel to be located in the non-anatomical center of the ACL footprint and reduces the femoral-tunnel length. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid excessive notchplasty when performing this operation.

scholarly journals Safe Femoral Fixation Depth and Orientation for Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712097659
Author(s):  
Meng Zhu ◽  
Dave Yee Han Lee ◽  
Andy Williams
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Femoral Tunnel ◽  
Guide Wire ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Axial Plane ◽  
Coronal Plane ◽  
Anteromedial Portal ◽  
Femoral Fixation ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Femoral Tunnel Drilling

Background: Patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) can have a persistent postoperative pivot shift. Performing lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) concurrently has been proposed to address this; however, LET femoral fixation may interfere with the ACLR femoral tunnel, which could damage the ACL graft or its fixation. Purpose: To evaluate the safe maximum implant or tunnel depth for a modified Lemaire LET when combined with ACLR anteromedial portal femoral tunnel drilling and to validate the safe LET drilling angles to avoid conflict with the ACLR femoral tunnel. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were used. With each knee at 120° of flexion, an ACLR femoral tunnel in the anteromedial bundle position was created arthroscopically via the anteromedial portal using a 5-mm offset guide, a guide wire, and an 8-mm reamer, which was left in situ. A modified Lemaire LET was performed using a 1 cm-wide iliotibial band strip harvested with the distal attachment intact, to be fixed in the femur. The desired LET fixation point was identified with an external aperture 10 mm proximal and 5 mm posterior to the fibular collateral ligament’s femoral attachment, and a 2.4-mm guide wire was drilled, aiming at 0°, 10°, 20°, or 30° anteriorly in the axial plane and at 0°, 10°, or 20° proximally in the coronal plane (12 different drilling angle combinations). The relationship between the LET drilling guide wire and the ACLR femoral tunnel reamer was recorded for each combination. When a collision with the femoral tunnel was recorded, the LET wire depth was measured. Results: Collision with the ACLR femoral tunnel occurred at a mean LET wire depth of 23.6 mm (range, 15-33 mm). No correlation existed between LET wire depth and LET drilling orientation ( r = 0.066; P = .67). Drilling angle in the axial plane was significantly associated with the occurrence of tunnel conflict ( P < .001). However, no such association was detected when comparing the drilling angle in the coronal plane ( P = .267). Conclusion: Conflict of LET femoral fixation with the ACLR femoral tunnel using anteromedial portal drilling occurred at a mean depth of 23.6 mm but also at a depth as little as 15 mm, which is shorter than most implants. When longer implants or tunnels are used, the orientation should be directed at least 30° anteriorly in the axial plane to minimize the risk of tunnel conflict, bearing in mind the risk of joint violation. Clinical Relevance: This study provides important information for surgeons performing LET in combination with ACLR anteromedial portal femoral tunnel drilling regarding safe femoral implant or tunnel length and orientation.

scholarly journals Correlation of Femoral Tunnel Length with Body Height, Limb Length, and Thigh Length in Indian Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-288
Author(s):  
Ravi Gupta ◽  
Anubhav Malhotra ◽  
Pawan Kumar ◽  
Gladson David Masih
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Femoral Tunnel ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Limb Length ◽  
Tunnel Length ◽  
Indian Patients ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Hamstrings Tendon

Purpose To measure the femoral tunnel length created through a far medial portal and determine its correlation with body height, limb length, and thigh length in 404 Indian patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods 364 male and 40 female Indian patients aged 18 to 51 (mean, 26.8) years underwent ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon using the hamstrings tendon autograft. Their body height, limb length, and thigh length were measured by a single assessor, as was the femoral tunnel length. Results The mean femoral tunnel length was 34.5 mm. It was <30 mm in 28 patients and <25 mm in 2 patients. The correlation coefficients of the femoral tunnel length with body height, limb length, and thigh length were 0.485 (p<0.0001), 0.426 (p<0.0001), and 0.304 (p<0.0001). No patient had posterior wall blowout fracture. Conclusion The femoral tunnel length positively correlated with body height, limb length, and thigh length in 404 Indian patients.

scholarly journals The influence of femoral tunnel length on graft rupture after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Gabriel Betoni Guglielmetti ◽  
Leandro Girardi Shimba ◽  
Leonardo Cantarelli do Santos ◽  
Fabrício Roberto Severino ◽  
Nilson Roberto Severino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽  
Ligament Reconstruction ◽  
Femoral Tunnel ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Tunnel Length ◽  
Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽  
Graft Rupture ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Lateral Femoral Anatomic Structures and the Femoral Tunnel Outlet in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using the Transportal Technique: A 3-Dimensional Simulation Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596712095278
Author(s):  
Kwangho Chung ◽  
Chong Hyuk Choi ◽  
Sung-Hwan Kim ◽  
Sung-Jae Kim ◽  
Woosung Do ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Femoral Tunnel ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Lateral Collateral Ligament ◽  
Tunnel Length ◽  
Tunnel Wall ◽  
Lateral Epicondyle ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
The Relationship

Background: The relationship between the lateral femoral anatomic structures and femoral tunnel outlet according to changes in knee flexion and transverse drill angle during femoral tunnel creation in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remains unclear. Purpose: To investigate the relationships between the lateral femoral anatomic structures and femoral tunnel outlet according to various knee flexion and transverse drill angles and to determine appropriate angles at which to minimize possible damage to the lateral femoral anatomic structures. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Simulation of ACL reconstruction was conducted using a 3-dimensional reconstructed knee model from the knees of 30 patients. Femoral tunnels were created using combinations of 4 knee flexion and 3 transverse drill angles. Distances between the femoral tunnel outlet and lateral femoral anatomic structures (minimum safe distance, 12 mm), tunnel length, and tunnel wall breakage were assessed. Results: Knee flexion and transverse drill angles independently affected distances between the femoral tunnel outlet and lateral femoral anatomic structures. As knee flexion angle increased, the distance to the lateral collateral ligament, lateral epicondyle, and popliteal tendon decreased, whereas the distance to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius increased ( P < .001). As the transverse drill angle decreased, distances to all lateral femoral anatomic structures increased ( P < .001). Considering safe distance, 120°, 130°, or 140° of knee flexion and maximum transverse drill angle (MTA) could damage the lateral collateral ligament; 130° or 140° of knee flexion and MTA could damage the lateral epicondyle; and 110° or 120° of knee flexion and MTA could damage the lateral head of the gastrocnemius. Tunnel wall breakage occurred under the conditions of MTA – 10° or MTA – 20° with 110° of knee flexion and MTA – 20° with 120° of knee flexion. Conclusion: Approximately 120° of knee flexion with MTA – 10° and 130° or 140° of knee flexion with MTA – 20° or MTA – 10° could be recommended to prevent damage to the lateral femoral anatomic structures, secure adequate tunnel length, and avoid tunnel wall breakage. Clinical Relevance: Knee flexion angle and transverse drill angle may affect femoral tunnel creation, but thorough studies are lacking. Our findings may help surgeons obtain a stable femoral tunnel while preventing damage to the lateral femoral anatomic structures.

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