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Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 1/2017

01-01-2017 | Knee

Increased revision rate with posterior tibial tunnel placement after using the 70-degree tibial guide in ACL reconstruction

Authors: Eivind Inderhaug, Sveinung Raknes, Thomas Østvold, Eirik Solheim, Torbjørn Strand

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

To map knee morphology radiographically in a population with a torn ACL and to investigate whether anatomic factors could be related to outcomes after ACL reconstruction at mid- to long-term follow-up. Further, we wanted to assess tibial tunnel placement after using the 70-degree “anti-impingement” tibial tunnel guide and investigate any relation between tunnel placement and revision surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction involving the 70-degree tibial guide from 2003 to 2008 were included. Two independent investigators analysed pre- and post-operative radiographs. Demographic data and information on revision surgery were collected from an internal database. Anatomic factors and post-operative tibial tunnel placements were investigated as predictors of revision.

Results

Three-hundred and seventy-seven patients were included in the study. A large anatomic variation with significant differences between men and women was seen. None of the anatomic factors could be related to a significant increase in revision rate. Patients with a posterior tibial tunnel placement, defined as 50 % or more posterior on the Amis and Jakob line, did, however, have a higher risk of revision surgery compared to patients with an anterior tunnel placement (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Use of the 70-degree tibial guide did result in a high incidence (47 %) of posterior tibial tunnel placements associated with an increased rate of revision surgery. The current study was, however, not able to identify any anatomic variation that could be related to a higher risk of revision surgery. Avoiding graft impingement from the femoral roof in anterior tibial tunnel placements is important, but the insight that overly posterior tunnel placement can lead to inferior outcome should also be kept in mind when performing ACL surgery.

Level of evidence

IV.
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Metadata
Title
Increased revision rate with posterior tibial tunnel placement after using the 70-degree tibial guide in ACL reconstruction
Authors
Eivind Inderhaug
Sveinung Raknes
Thomas Østvold
Eirik Solheim
Torbjørn Strand
Publication date
01-01-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4341-5

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