Description
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between femoral intercondylar notch volume and the characteristics of femoral tunnels in anatomical single bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Methods
Fifty-one (51) subjects (24 male and 27 female: median age 27: range 15-49), were included in this study. Anatomical single bundle ACL reconstruction was performed in all subjects using a trans-portal technique. Femoral tunnel length was measured intra-operatively. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) was taken at pre and post-surgery. The intercondylar notch volume was calculated with a truncated-pyramid shape simulation using the pre-operative 3D-CT image. In the post-operative 3D-CT, the modified quadrant method was used to measure femoral ACL tunnel placement. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between characteristics of the femoral tunnel (length and placement) and femoral intercondylar notch volume.
Results
Femoral tunnel placement was 47.6±10.5% in the high-low (proximal-distal) direction, and 22.6±5.4％ in the shallow-deep (anterior-posterior) direction. Femoral tunnel length was 35.3±4.4cm. Femoral intercondylar notch volume was 8.6±2.1cm3. A significant correlation was found between femoral intercondylar notch volume and high-low (proximal-distal) femoral tunnel placement (Pearson’s coefficient correlation: 0.469, p=0.003).
Conclusion
