Search Filters

  • Presentation Format
  • Media Type
  • Diagnosis / Condition
  • Diagnosis Method
  • Patient Populations
  • Treatment / Technique

Biomechanical Evaluation Of An Over-The-Top Femoral Fixation Technique For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction


Heath Patrick Gould, MD
UNITED STATES

Biomechanical Evaluation Of An Over-The-Top Femoral Fixation Technique For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Heath Patrick Gould, MD, UNITED STATES Timothy Neary, MD, UNITED STATES Richard Y. Hinton, MD, MPH, PT, UNITED STATES

MedStar Orthopaedic Institute (Union Memorial Hospital), Baltimore, Maryland, UNITED STATES

2021 Congress   ePoster Presentation     Not yet rated

 

Anatomic Location

Knee

Anatomic Structure

Ligaments

Diagnosis / Condition

Tears

Treatment / Technique

Repair / Reconstruction Failed

Ligaments

ACL

Patient Populations

Pediatric / Adolescent

Sports Medicine

Biomechanics

This media is available to current ISAKOS Members, Global Link All-Access Subscribers and Webinar/Course Registrants only.
Log inSubscription Options

Summary: ACL reconstruction using an over-the-top femoral fixation technique demonstrated no significant difference in anterior tibial displacement compared to conventional single-bundle reconstruction, suggesting that a single-stage reconstruction using an over-the-top technique may be a biomechanically viable alternative to two-stage revision in the setting of ACL graft failure with tunnel osteolysis.

Introduction

Revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may be complicated by graft tunnel osteolysis, often requiring a two-stage procedure with initial bone grafting followed by definitive ligamentous reconstruction at a later date. This cadaveric study aimed to compare the biomechanical properties of an over-the-top (OTT) femoral fixation technique that does not require bone tunnels to the conventional single-bundle technique for ACL reconstruction. We hypothesized that the OTT technique would be biomechanically non-inferior to the conventional technique.

Methods

Eight matched pairs of cadaveric knees were used. Specimens in each pair were randomized to undergo either a conventional single-bundle ACL reconstruction with femoral and tibial bone tunnels or an OTT technique with extra-physeal fixation on the femoral side. An ACL rupture was simulated by transecting the ligament arthroscopically. All reconstructions were performed using a quadruple-strand hamstring autograft. Specimens were mounted onto a custom biomechanical testing jig, which held the femur in place and applied a 134N anterior force to the tibia with the knee flexed to 30 degrees. Displacement of the tibia relative to the femur was recorded and compared between groups using paired t tests.

Results

No significant difference in mean anterior tibial displacement was observed between the intact and reconstructed states for the control (6.19 vs. 7.13mm; p=0.41) or experimental (6.25 vs. 6.03mm; p=0.71) reconstruction techniques. Similarly, there was no significant difference in mean displacement observed between the reconstructed experimental specimens and reconstructed controls (6.03 vs. 7.13mm; p=0.28).

Conclusions

ACL reconstruction using an OTT femoral fixation technique demonstrated no significant difference in anterior tibial displacement compared to conventional single-bundle reconstruction. These data suggest that a single-stage reconstruction using OTT femoral fixation may be a biomechanically viable alternative to avoid a two-stage revision procedure in the setting of ACL graft failure with femoral tunnel osteolysis.

More 2021 Congress Knee Abstract Presentations

More ISAKOS 2021: Global Content