Tibial subluxation in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees: Implications for tibial tunnel placement.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to determine whether subtle anterior subluxation occurs in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees with the knee in full extension.


METHODS
Radiographic evaluation of tibial position in ACL-intact and ACL-deficient knees.


METHODS
Twenty-four subjects with arthroscopically documented ACL-deficient knees were compared with 20 subjects with arthroscopically documented ACL-intact knees. A previously reported method was used to evaluate the tibial position relative to the femur.


RESULTS
Measurements on standing lateral radiographs revealed asymptomatic but significant anterior subluxation of the tibia compared with the ACL-intact subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The possibility of anterior tibial subluxation with the knee in full extension should be taken into account when deciding on tibial tunnel placement or when evaluating for postoperative graft impingement by the intercondylar notch.
Almekinders
L C
LC
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine Section, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. almekind@med.unc.edu
Chiavetta
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D012421:Rupture; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging