title: Anatomic double-bundle versus single-bundle ACL reconstruction: a comparative biomechanical study in rabbits.
abstract: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in their right knees; 15 animals underwent a double-bundle anatomic ACL reconstruction using the medial third of the patellar tendon and the semitendinosus tendon. Additionally, 15 animals underwent ACL reconstruction, using a single-bundle semitendinosus tendon autograft. The knees of both groups were evaluated with a device similar to the KT1000 arthrometer onto which a dial indicator was attached (Mitutoyo dial indicator 2050) in 30 degrees and 90 degrees of flexion, preoperatively, after ACL resection and 3 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that for 90 degrees of knee flexion, the mean estimated anterior shift for the double-bundle technique was 1.92 mm lesser than that of the single-bundle technique (P = 0.006). For 30 degrees of knee flexion, the mean anterior shift was again lesser than that of the single-bundle technique by 0.66 mm, but this difference was not statistically significant. The described double-bundle ACL reconstruction technique resulted in a more stable knee as far as the anterior tibial shift was concerned as compared to a single-bundle ACL reconstruction. This animal model may be potentially useful in the future for the study of other parameters influencing the outcome of the double-bundle ACL reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, Athens University, Megalou Alexandrou 54, 15124 Maroussi, Athens, Greece. vassilios.nikolaou@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vassilios S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sourlas
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilichou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papachristou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous