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

Abstract

BackgroundThe 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.MethodsFor 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsWith the aid of double-sided laser technology, transtibial tunnel technique can safely achieve single-bundle reconstruction of ACL.

The use of a 3D-printed individualized navigation template to assist in the anatomical reconstruction surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament

“…Surgeons mainly locate this by using bone markers visualized under arthroscopy, but it is difficult to achieve a perfect ACL anatomical reconstruction, and the operation may not always be successful (22). Many researchers have explored novel methods to accurately locate the ACL insertion point, and found that using a fluoroscopy navigation system, a laser location system, or a reconstruction navigation system based on 2D-3D registration could achieve an accurate bone tunnel position (23)(24)(25). Ni and colleagues (26) used CT data to determine the ACL insertion location in 20 cases of cadaveric knee joints.…”