One-stage revision anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with rectangular tunnel technique

We developed the anatomic rectangular tunnel anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ART ACLR) with a bone–patellar tendon–bone graft to mimic fibre arrangement inside the native ACL via tunnels with smaller apertures. With a 10-mm-wide graft, the cross-sectional area of the tunnels of 50 mm2 in ART ACLR is less than that of 79 mm2 in a 10-mm round tunnel one. Because tunnel encroachment would be less of a problem, the ART ACLR technique could be most frequently applied to patients after a failed primary ACLR. In this instructional lecture, the indication and technical considerations for ART ACLR as one-stage revision ACLR are described

Excursion of bone-patella tendon-bone grafts during the flexion–extension movement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Comparison between isometric and anatomic reconstruction techniques

Background/objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the biomechanical differences between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts reconstructed by isometric and anatomic reconstruction techniques, based on their length changes. Methods: One hundred and thirty-three knees with primary ACL reconstruction using the bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) graft were retrospectively identified. Twenty-two knees and 111 knees underwent isometric round tunnel (IRT) ACL reconstruction and anatomic rectangular tunnel (ART) ACL reconstruction, respectively. Results: After femoral-side fixation of the graft in the surgery, the length change of the graft from 120° flexion to full extension was measured by using an isometric positioner at the tibial side. Both reconstructive techniques showed little length change from 120° to ∼20° of flexion, followed by elongation of the graft, until full extension. The amount of length change of the grafts was 1.0 ± 0.7 mm with the IRT technique, and 3.4 ± 0.9 mm with the ART technique. These findings were significantly different, based on the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The native ACL has an intrinsic length change of 3–6 mm, and therefore the ART technique may more closely replicate the biomechanical function of the native ACL