Tibial Tunnel enlargement Following Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

The roentgenograms following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction show the enlargement of bone tunnels. Many authors hypothesized the cause of the tunnel enlargement, either mechanical or biological causes. The purpose of this study was to find the factors which affected the enlargement of the tibial tunnel following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone or hamstring tendon. Sixty patients were reviewed retrospectively for radiographic measurement of tibial tunnel at post-operative one year (27 patients received bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft, 12 patients received bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft and Kennedy LAD-ligament augmentation device, 21 patients received Semitendinosus and Gracilis tendons with Endobutton). Roentgenographic anteroposterior and lateral films were checked and the tunnel was measured by two independent observers using a digital caliper. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test. The tibial tunnel enlargement was only related to the position of the fixation of the tibial tunnel. We concluded that tibial tunnel enlargement following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is attributed to the mechanical effect rather than the properties of grafts and the clinical results.