Skip to main content
Log in

Comparison of different femoral fixation implants and fit techniques for tunnel widening and clinical outcome in ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the current study is to investigate in different femoral fixation devices whether tight (undersize drilled) fit technique decreases the tunnel widening and improves the clinical outcome compared to conventional technique in ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft.

Methods

93 patients, who underwent Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction whether cortical-cancellous suspension (CP) or cortical suspension (BF) used as fixation device for the hamstring tendon autograft, were included in the study. The cases also grouped as undersize drilled (tight fit) and normal drilled (normal fit) according to their autograft size. There was no difference in demographic data of these four subgroups (CP-TF, CP-NF, BF-TF, and BF-NF) preoperatively.

Results

The patients, who had been followed for at least 2 years were included in the study. They were looked for their clinical outcome (Lysholm and IKDC scoring), tunnel widening (on AP and lateral radiographs), and also anterior translation. The BF-TF subgroup showed significantly the best clinical results compared to other three subgroups. There was no difference between BF-TF, CP-TF, and CP-NF in terms of tunnel widening.

Conclusion

Button fixation of femoral side in ACL reconstruction surgery has good clinical outcome and lower complication rate. Undersize drilling might be preferred in button fixation in order to reduce TW and improve stability and clinical satisfaction.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic case series, Level IV.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kong CG, In Y, Kim GH, Ahn CY (2012) Cross pins versus endobutton femoral fixation in hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: minimum 4-year follow-up. Knee Surg Relat Res 24(1):34–39

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hamner DL, Brown CH Jr, Steiner ME, Hecker AT, Hayes WC (1999) Hamstring tendon grafts for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: biomechanical evaluation of the use of multiple strands and tensioning techniques. J Bone Joint Surg Am 81(4):549–557

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. To JT, Howell SM, Hull ML (1999) Contributions of femoral fixation methods to the stiffness of anterior cruciate ligament replacements at implantation. Arthroscopy 15(4):379–387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hwang DH, Shetty GM, Kim JI, Kwon JH, Song JK, Muñoz M, Lee JS, Nha KW (2013) Does press-fit technique reduce tunnel volume enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous hamstring tendons? A prospective randomized computed tomography study. Arthroscopy 29(1):83–88

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Siebold R, Kiss ZS, Morris HG (2008) Effect of compaction drilling during ACL reconstruction with hamstrings on postoperative tunnel widening. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 128(5):461–468

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nebelung S, Deitmer G, Gebing R, Reichwein F, Nebelung W (2012) High incidence of tunnel widening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with transtibial femoral tunnel placement. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 132(11):1653–1663

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Firat A, Catma F, Tunc B, Hacihafizoglu C, Altay M, Bozkurt M, Kapicioglu MI (2014) The attic of the femoral tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comparison of outcomes of two suspensory femoral fixation systems. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22(5):1097–1105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Zantop T, Petersen W (2008) Double bundle revision of a malplaced single bundle vertical ACL reconstruction: ACL revision surgery using a two femoral tunnel technique. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 128(11):1287–1294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fauno P, Kaalund S (2005) Tunnel widening after hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is influenced by the type of graft fixation used: a prospective randomized study. Arthroscopy 21(11):1337–1341

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hoher J, Möller HD, Fu FH (1998) Bone tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: fact or fiction? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 6(4):231–240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Buck DC, Simonian PT, Larson RV, Borrow J, Nathanson DA (2004) Timeline of tibial tunnel expansion after single-incision hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 20(1):34–36

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Price R, Stoney J, Brown G (2010) Prospective randomized comparison of endobutton versus cross-pin femoral fixation in hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with 2-year follow-up. ANZ J Surg 80(3):162–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Clark R, Olsen RE, Larson BJ, Goble EM, Farrer RP (1998) Cross-pin femoral fixation: a new technique for hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the knee. Arthroscopy 14(3):258–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wolf EM (1998) Semitendinosus and gracilis anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the transfix technique. Tech Ortop 13:329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhai W, Lv C, Zheng Y, Gao Y, Ding Z, Chen Z (2013) Weak link of tendon–bone healing and a control experiment to promote healing. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 133(11):1533–1541

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Choi NH, Oh JS, Jung SH, Victoroff BN (2013) Correlation between endobutton loop length and tunnel widening after hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 41(1):101–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Buelow JU, Siebold R, Ellermann A (2002) A prospective evaluation of tunnel enlargement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings: extracortical versus anatomical fixation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 10(2):80–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Majewski M, Susanne H, Klaus S (2006) Epidemiology of athletic knee injuries: a 10-year study. Knee. 13(3):184–188

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Baumfeld JA, Diduch DR, Rubino LJ, Hart JA, Miller MD, Barr MS, Hart JM (2008) Tunnel widening following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring autograft: a comparison between double cross-pin and suspensory graft fixation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 16(12):1108–1113

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Sabat D, Kundu K, Arora S, Kumar V (2011) Tunnel widening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective randomized computed tomography-based study comparing 2 different femoral fixation methods for hamstring graft. Arthroscopy 27(6):776–783

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Jansson KA, Harilainen A, Sandelin J, Karjalainen PT, Aronen HJ, Tallroth K (1999) Bone tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the hamstring autograft and endobutton fixation technique. A clinical, radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging study with 2 years follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 7(5):290–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Webster KE, Feller JA, Elliott J, Hutchison A, Payne R (2004) A comparison of bone tunnel measurements made using computed tomography and digital plain radiography after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 20(9):946–950

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ganko A, Engebretsen L, Ozer H (2000) The rolimeter: a new arthrometer compared with the KT-1000. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 8(1):36–39

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schuster AJ, McNicholas MJ, Wachtl SW, McGurty DW, Jakob RP (2004) A new mechanical testing device for measuring anteroposterior knee laxity. Am J Sports Med 32(7):1731–1735

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ballal MS, Khan Y, Hastie G, Hatcher A, Coogan S, McNicholas MJ (2013) Functional outcome of primary hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients with different body mass index classes. Arthroscopy 29(8):1314–1321

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sinha S, Naik AK, Meena D, Jain VK, Arya RK (2014) Creation of femoral tunnel by outside-in technique for ACL reconstruction: an analysis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134(12):1709–1716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Saygi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saygi, B., Karaman, O., Sirin, E. et al. Comparison of different femoral fixation implants and fit techniques for tunnel widening and clinical outcome in ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 136, 241–247 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-015-2348-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-015-2348-x

Keywords

Navigation