title: Outcome of arthroscopic single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: anteromedial portal technique versus transtibial drilling technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Controversies exist about the femoral tunnel preparation technique in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate mid-term outcomes of transtibial (TT) technique in comparison with anteromedial portal (AMP) one.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data, height, weight, period of time from injury to surgery, and follow-up duration of patients underwent ACL reconstruction using single-bundle hamstring graft by the senior author between 2007 and 2011 were evaluated, retrospectively. Mid-quadriceps circumference difference, passive range of motion of the joint, anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot shift test were assessed for each case. Function of the knee joint was calculated using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, and Tegner scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 50 cases in the AMP group (age 30.6 ± 6.5), 45 were male and of the 44 patients in the TT group (age 30.0 ± 6.5), forty were male. Mean follow-up times in the AMP and TT group were 18.2 months (range 12-84 months) and 25.7 months (range 16-48 months), respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in mid-quadriceps circumference difference (P = 0.861). Also, functional knee scores (P values of IKDC = 0.329, Lysholm score = 0.08, Tegner = 0.504) and stability tests (P values of anterior drawer test = 0.07, Lachman test = 0.486, pivot shift test = 0.348) did not differ statistically between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no superiority of AMP technique on TT technique in ACL reconstructive surgeries. It could be suggested that performing a well-done technique, either TT or AMP, may be more important than only choosing a technique.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chamran Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
authors.affiliation: International Branch of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Marvdasht, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ettehadi
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chamran Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. vosoughiar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vosoughi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Anteromedial portal technique; Arthroscopy; Knee; Transtibial technique