Arthroscopically assisted reduction of a lateral femoral notch in acute tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Abstract

We report the case of a 20-year-old soccer player who suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament with a depression fracture of the lateral femoral condyle. In addition to repairing the ligament we were able to arthroscopically reduce the depression fracture using a bioabsorbable screw. We tamped the surrounding cancellous bone with dilatators and chisels to create a bearing for an interference screw. This prepared for the placing of the screw and resulted in a sufficient reshaping of the condyle. We then inserted a threaded bioabsorbable interference screw into the lateral condyle under arthroscopic guidance to reline the fracture and reduce joint incongruity. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed a significant reduction of the fracture.