ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the position of the 10-mm-sized femur tunnel drilled aiming for the bifurcate ridge using anteromedial portal technique with 'Figure of 4 position' by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction images after anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to evaluate it's propriety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 35 patients who underwent anatomic ACL reconstruction from March 2012 to February 2013, 32 patients who undergone postoperative 3D-CT scans were included in this study retrospectively. Medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle was reconstructed using Mimics, and then the position of the femoral tunnel was evaluated using the Bernard quadrant method and the results were compared with those of published literatures. The mean age of the patients was 32.6 years old. There were 25 cases of double-bundle ACL reconstruction with one femoral-two tibial tunnel. There were 7 cases of single bundle ACL reconstruction with one femoral-one tibial tunnel. RESULTS: The mean distance of the femoral tunnel center was 32.2%+/-2.9% (range, 27.4%-37.6%) along the line parallel to the Blumensaat's line from the posterior condylar surface and 46.7%+/-2.3% (range, 43.5%-51.1%) along the line perpendicular to the Blumensaat's line from the roof of the notch. In comparison with the results of published literature, although the center of the femoral tunnel was presented in the femoral footprint, it was located slightly more shallow and inferior than the center of the ACL footprints. CONCLUSION: The bifurcate ridge may be a good anatomic landmark when making a 10-mm-sized single femoral tunnel in 'Figure of 4 position' using the anteromedial portal technique.