Tibial tunnel enlargement following anterior cruciate reconstruction: does post-operative immobilisation make a difference?

Murty, A N; el Zebdeh, M Y; Ireland, J · Knee · 2001

prospective_cohort · Level II

Where this comes from

Abstract

The aetiology of tunnel enlargement following anterior cruciate reconstruction is still not fully understood. We studied, with particular reference to the tibial tunnel appearances, a group of 28 patients 1 year from anterior cruciate reconstruction by a four-strand hamstring technique. Fourteen underwent accelerated rehabilitation and 14 were immobilised post-operatively for 2 weeks following reconstruction. Tunnel enlargement was significantly greater in the immobilised group. There was no significant correlation between tunnel enlargement and the clinical result at 1-year post-reconstruction.

Medical subject headings

Anatomy