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Computed tomography value and tunnel enlargement of round and rounded rectangular femoral bone tunnel for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

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

Abstract

Introduction

We developed a novel technique for anatomical single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: creation of a rounded rectangular femoral bone tunnel. The purpose of this study was to compare the computed tomography (CT) value and tunnel enlargement ratio of the femoral bone tunnel with those of round tunnel ACL reconstruction.

Materials and methods

We included 39 knees that underwent round tunnel ACL reconstruction and 42 that underwent rounded rectangular ACL reconstruction. To evaluate the CT value, we compared the CT images approximately 1 week after surgery. Making a parallel slice toward the opening of bone tunnels to a depth of 3 mm, we evaluated the CT value of eight directions in the bone tunnel wall. To evaluate tunnel enlargement, we compared CT images approximately 1 week after surgery with images taken 3 months after surgery. Using a parallel slice toward the opening of the bone tunnel, we measured the bone tunnel area and calculated the tunnel enlargement ratio. The level of significance was P < 0.05, and the t test was used for statistical analyses.

Results

The CT value was significantly increased for the rounded rectangular tunnel in comparison with the round tunnel in almost all directions (P < 0.05). The rounded rectangular tunnel area enlargement ratio was significantly lower (round, 110 ± 38 %; rounded rectangular, 73 ± 37 %; P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The rounded rectangular tunnel could have a compression effect on the cancellous bone and reduce enlargement of the bone tunnel.

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Acknowledgments

This work was not funded by any private, industrial, or governmental organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8641, Japan

    Yasushi Takata, Junsuke Nakase, Hitoaki Numata, Takeshi Oshima & Hiroyuki Tsuchiya

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  1. Yasushi Takata
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  2. Junsuke Nakase
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  3. Hitoaki Numata
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  4. Takeshi Oshima
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  5. Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
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Correspondence to Junsuke Nakase.

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Takata, Y., Nakase, J., Numata, H. et al. Computed tomography value and tunnel enlargement of round and rounded rectangular femoral bone tunnel for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 136, 1587–1594 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-016-2541-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-016-2541-6

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