Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the differencies in graft orientation between transtibial and anteromedial portal technique using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Materials and Methods: Fifty one patients who undergoing arthroscopically ACL reconstruction underwent MRI of their reconstructed knee. Thirty patients had ACL reconstruction using the transtibial technique (group A) while in the rest 21 the anteromedial technique (group B) was used. In the femoral part graft orientation was evaluated using the femoral graft angle (FGA). The FGA was depicted at the coronal views by two axes: the anatomical axis of the femur and the axis of the femoral tunnel. In the tibial part graft orientation was evaluated using the tibial graft angle (TGA). The TGA was specified as the angle between the axis of the graft and a line parallel to the tibial plateau at the sagittal view.
Results: The mean FGA for group A was 12.52° while for the group B was 27.06°. This difference was statistically significant (p< 0.001 paired t-test). The mean TGA for group A was 64.24° while for the group B was 63.11° but this was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Using the anteromedial portal technique the ACL graft is placed in a more oblique direction in comparison with the transtibial technique in the femoral part. This may have an impact in rotatory knee stability. However, there are no differencies between the two techniques in graft orientation in the tibial part.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
