Non-anatomic tunnel position increases the risk of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Purpose Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft failure is a complication that may require revision ACL reconstruction (ACL-R). Non-anatomic placement of the femoral tunnel is thought to be a frequent cause of graft failure; however, there is a lack of evidence to support this belief. The purpose of this study was to determine if non-anatomic femoral tunnel placement is associated with increased risk of revision ACL-R. Methods After screening all 315 consecutive patients who underwent primary single-bundle ACL-R by a single senior orthopedic surgeon between January 2012 and January 2017, 58 patients were found to have both strict lateral radiographs and a minimum of 24 months follow-up without revision. From a group of 456 consecutive revision ACL-R, patients were screened for strictly lateral radiographs and 59 patients were included in the revision group. Femoral tunnel placement for each patient was determined using a strict lateral radiograph taken after the primary ACL-R using the quadrant method. The center of the femoral tunnel was measured in both the posterior-anterior (PA) and proximal-distal (PD) dimensions and represented as a percentage of the total distance (normal center of anatomic footprint: PA 25% and PD 29%). Results In the PA dimension, the revision group had significantly more anterior femoral tunnel placement compared with the primary group (38% +/- 11% vs. 28% +/- 6%, p < 0.01). Among patients who underwent revision; those with non-traumatic chronic failure had statistically significant more anterior femoral tunnel placement than those who experienced traumatic failure (41% +/- 13% vs. 35% +/- 8%, p < 0.03). In the PD dimension, the revision group had significantly more proximal femoral tunnel placement compared with the primary group (30% +/- 9% vs 38% +/- 9%, p < 0.01). Conclusion In this retrospective study of 58 patients with successful primary ACL-R compared with 59 patients with failed ACL-R, anterior and proximal (high) femoral tunnels for ACL-R were shown to be independent risk factors for ACL revision surgery. As revision ACL-R is associated with patient- and economic burden, particular attention should be given to achieving an individualized, anatomic primary ACL-R. Surgeons may reduce the risk of revision ACL-R by placing the center of the femoral tunnel within the anatomic ACL footprint.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Anterior cruciate ligament

Revision

Reconstruction

Anatomic

Failure

ACL

Trauma

Arthroscopic

Value

Value-based

single-bundle

acl revision

follow-up

epidemiology

stability

Orthopedics

Sport Sciences

Surgery

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