title: Intra-articular distal femur fracture extending from an expanded femoral tunnel in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed knee: a case report.
abstract: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a popular surgery with overall good results. However, postoperative fracture is a serious, albeit, rare complication. Femoral tunnel lysis may cause a stress riser effect leading to distal femur fractures after ACL reconstruction. We report a case in which a patient who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery 18 months before a low-energy twisting mechanism suffered a distal femur fracture requiring open reduction internal fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Vijay B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Thangamani
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Flanigan
authors.forename: Bradley R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Merk
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery