- Discussion:
- the two incision ("backdoor") approach has remained the gold standard for ACL reconstruction,
because it is the only technique which can reliably position the femoral tunnel at the
10 o'clock (or 2 o'clock) position (which is necessary for anatomic reconstruction);
- the one incision (transtibial) technique often cannot reliably reproduce this insertion;
- in the report by Arciero MD et al 1996, the two incision technique was comparted to the one incision technique.
- the functional results between the two groups was similar but there was a trend toward a residual pivot glide in the endoscopic
technique vs the two incision technique and there was more screw divergence in the endoscopic group;
- Initial Arthroscopic Debridement and Notchplasty: (see notchplasty)
Bone Patella Bone Harvest
- Lateral Incision:
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- lateral condyle is exposed for the second incision.
- this is done thru a 3-4 cm longitudinal incision laterally beginning at the mid-patellar level (or just proximal to the lateral condylar
flare) and extending proximally;
- it is probably better to error w/ incision slightly posterior rather than anterior;
- incision is taken down thru skin & subQ tissues, exposing iliotibial band which is sharply incised.
- note that the posterior one third of the IT band attaches to the femoral epicondyle, and that this attachment provides resistance
to varus stress;
- disruption of this attachment may lead to late lateral instability;
- retract the vastus lateralis anteriorly with a bent Homan retractor;
- the starting point for the two incision technique is just proximal to the femoral condyle and just posterior to the midline;
- note that there are case reports of AVN of the medial femoral condyle when the PCL femoral tunnel has been placed too close
to the femoral condyles;
- the tunnel should not be placed so far posteriorly that the back wall will blow out during the reaming, but should be placed as
posteriorly as possible;
- Femoral Guide Placement:
- after an adequate notchplasty has been performed, use an angled curret to create a starting hole at the 10 o'clock (or 1 o'clock)
position which is about 5 mm from the over the top position;
- the femoral tunneling guide is set at 105 deg, and the guide wire position in the jig should be checked prior to drilling of the femur;
- this is then checked arthroscopically & placed over top position at 10 o'clock to 10:30 position;
- use a grabber to hold the femoral guide tip and later to block forward passage of the guide pin;
- guide pin is placed over which a 10 mm tunnel is then drilled using guide;
- careful not to shear off the guide pin;
- plug up the hole with a stopper;
- chamfer the tunnel:
- a curet & a shaver may be used to facilitate passage of graft at the articular entrance, and in addition this chamfering helps prevent
tendon graft fraying on the articular surface;
- this step cannot be overemphasized;
- care must be taken, however, not to enlarge the drill hole;
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- Tibial Tunnel Placement:
- Graft Fixation:
- normal ACL has approximately 3 mm of excursion from 30 deg of flexion to 0 deg extension; (Garrett and Cavallo, unpublished data);
- in a typical ACL reconstruction there will be 2-3 mm of excursion from 30 to 0 deg of extension;
- hence graft should be fixed w/ the knee in 20-30 of flexion, so that the physiologic tension can be maintained;
Single versus two-incision arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Thanks to James Davidson MD