title: [The incidence and variation of tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, China. chenbch2001@sohu.com
authors.forename: Bai-cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-cheng
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jing-qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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