The Significance of the Femoral Tunnel Position in PCL Reconstruction Using the Bone-Patellar tendon - Bone Graft

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical and radiological RESULTS of two patient-groups who had had PCL reconstruction for grade III PCL injury using the autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft at the isometric point and at the anatomical point of femoral condyle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 31 patients who were involved in this study, 20 patients had consecutive isometric PCL reconstructions between June 1993 and May 1995(group 1), And 11 patients had anatomi- cal PCL reconstructions between 1995 and 1997(group 2). We evaluated the clinical results using the Lysholm knee scoring system and measured the posterior translation of the tibial condyle on the posterior stress lateral radiographs. RESULT: The average posterior translation at the final follow-up was 7mm in group 1 and 5.9mm in group 2. The Lysholm knee score was 89 points in group 1, and 92 point in group 2. However, there wasn't any statistically significant difference in clinieal and radiological results between the two groups. SUMMARY: The clinical and radiological results can be influenced by several factors inherent to arthro-scopically assisted PCL reconstruction. Although it seems that initial knee kinematics can be improved by more distal PCL graft placement, there may be little effect to the final clinical and radiological results according to the femoral tunnel positions.