title: Laser-guided placement of the tibial guide in the transtibial technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: In anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, it is important to determine the location and direction of the femoral bone tunnel when using the transtibial technique. Accurately identifying the anatomic location at which to make the femoral bone tunnel for double-bundle ACL reconstruction is not a straightforward procedure. We describe a new method in which the centrum of the femoral tunnel is marked with an awl and a laser beam-guided technique is used to place the tibial pin. This procedure allows us to mark the desired location of the femoral tunnel before drilling the tibial bone tunnel when using the transtibial technique. This is the first report of a laser-guided technique used in arthroscopic surgery. We used a laser beam to determine the location of the femoral tunnel--the anatomic site needed to perform the intra-articular drilling in the tibia. In this technique, a laser pointer is set at the tibial guide, which reflects the laser beam and illuminates the point where the femoral bone tunnel should be made. Our method offers an easy and accurate way to reconfirm the tibial placement before drilling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan. takahast@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Haruyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001858:Bone Nails; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*