title: Autologous bone effects on femoral tunnel widening in hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: This study examines the hypothesis that autologous bone in the femoral tunnel for a hamstring anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction will reduce femoral tunnel widening. Thirty-six patients undergoing hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction were randomized to 2 groups. One group underwent ACL reconstruction using EndoButton femoral fixation. The other group underwent the same procedure, with the addition of a bone plug placed at the aperture of the femoral tunnel next to the graft. Twenty-seven patients at > 6 months postoperatively (range, 6-12 months) had digitized anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of the involved knee. Tunnel widening was determined by comparing the radiographic tunnel diameters to the drilled tunnel diameters from surgery. The mean (+/- SD) tunnel enlargement on the AP radiographs in the standard and plug groups were 3.8 +/- 1.7 mm and 3.5 +/- 2.0 mm, respectively (P = .61). On lateral radiographic assessment, the mean (+/- SD) tunnel enlargement in the standard and plug groups were 3.3 +/- 1.9 mm and 3.4 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively (P = .90). Autologous bone plug graft during ACL reconstruction does not reduce femoral tunnel widening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greis
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D001858:Bone Nails; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome