title: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by means of an anteromedial portal and femoral fixation using Rigidfix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a series of patients who underwent surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with flexor tendons, by means of the anteromedial transportal technique using Rigidfix for femoral fixation, and to analyze the positioning of the pins by means of tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients were included in the study. The clinical evaluation was done using the Lysholm, subjective IKDC and Rolimeter. All of them underwent computed tomography with 3D reconstruction in order to evaluate the entry point and positioning of the Rigidfix pins in relation to the joint cartilage of the lateral condyle of the femur.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Lysholm score obtained was 87.81 and the subjective IKDC was 83.72. Among the 32 patients evaluated, 43% returned to activities that were considered to be very vigorous, 9% vigorous, 37.5% moderate and 12.5% light. In 16 patients (50%), the distal entry point of the Rigidfix pin was located outside of the cartilage (extracartilage); in seven (21.87%), the distal pin injured the joint cartilage (intracartilage); and in nine (28.12%), it was at the border of the lateral condyle of the femur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients who underwent ACL reconstruction by means of the anteromedial transportal using the Rigidfix system presented satisfactory clinical results over the length of follow-up evaluated. However, the risk of lesions of the joint cartilage from the distal Rigidfix pin needs to be taken into consideration when the technique via an anteromedial portal is used. Further studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up times should be conducted for better evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Manoel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Inácio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil ; Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Osmar Valadão
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Lopes Júnior
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Idílio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Saggin
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Renato
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Fernandes Saggin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil ; Orthopedics and Traumatology Service of the Hospital Complex, Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Freitas Spinelli
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Imaging Diagnostics Service, Kozma Clinic of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Medeiros
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Castro
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Knee/surgery; Reconstruction