[The incidence and variation of tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence and variation of tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.


METHODS
ACL reconstructions using hamstring tendons were performed in 58 patients (58 knees) in the study. MRI scans were taken in a consistent manner at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery to measure tibial and femoral tunnel expansion.


RESULTS
Femoral tunnel enlargement was observed in 9 knees (9/58, 15.5%); Tibial tunnel enlargement was found in 12 knees (12/58, 20.7%). Of those with enlarged bone tunnels, there was no significant difference of tunnel diameters between 1 and 3 months after surgery (P>0.05). Six, 12 and 24 months postoperatively, the average tunnel diameters were larger than those of 1 or 3 months after surgery (P<0.05), however, no significant difference was found in between the tunnel diameters 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively either (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tunnel expansion mainly occurs during 3 to 6 months after surgery, and it remains basically unchanged between 12 and 24 months postoperatively.
Chen
Bai-cheng
BC
Department of Orthopaedics, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, China. chenbch2001@sohu.com
Sun
Ran
R
Wang
Xiao-feng
XF
Shao
De-cheng
DC
Lu
Bo
B
Chen
Jing-qing
JQ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous