Laser-guided transtibial technique improved single-bundle reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament.

Abstract

The transtibial tunnel technique achieves equal length reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This study aimed to investigate whether transtibial tunnel technique can achieve anatomical reconstruction of ACL. For 25 corpses, the anterior soft tissue of the knee joint was detached so that the ligamentous surface was fully exposed, then the knee joint was fixed at 90° with an external fixator and the anterior cruciate ligament was removed. Double-sided laser technology was used to establish spatial conformation of ACL. The male to female ratio of the subjects was 19:6, with an average age of 59.52 ± 11.13 years. Patellar tendon length was 35.23 ± 5.10 mm, tibial eminence length and width was 15.75 ± 2.44 and 7.80 ± 1.28 mm, respectively, and femoral attachment length and width was 15.40 ± 2.17 and 8.97 ± 1.61 mm, respectively. When the flexion turned 90°, the tibial tunnel length was 31.83 ± 4.09 mm and the distance to the tibial plateau, patellar tendon, and medial collateral ligament was 16.33 ± 4.56, 10.79 ± 5.85, and 23.12 ± 5.99 mm, respectively. With the aid of double-sided laser technology, transtibial tunnel technique can safely achieve single-bundle reconstruction of ACL.