Morphological Changes in the Tibial Tunnel After ACL Reconstruction With the Outside-In Technique and Adjustable Suspensory Fixation


OKUTAN A. E., Gurun E., Surucu S., Kehribar L., Mahirogullari M.

ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, cilt.11, sa.3, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 11 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/23259671231155153
  • Dergi Adı: ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using the complete tibial tunnel technique and adjustable-loop cortical suspensory fixation is known to leave a "dead space" that holds the loop device in the tibial tunnel. The consequence of the dead space and its effect on graft healing are still uncertain. Purpose:To investigate morphological changes in the tibial tunnel and their effect on graft healing, and to identify factors affecting bone healing in the tibial loop tunnel after ACLR with a quadrupled semitendinosus tendon autograft using adjustable suspensory fixation. Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods:Included were 48 patients (34 male, 14 female; mean age, 25.2 +/- 5.6 years) who underwent ACLR with a quadrupled semitendinosus tendon autograft using adjustable suspensory fixation. To evaluate tibial tunnel morphology, computed tomography was performed at 1 day and 6 months postoperatively. At 1 year postoperatively, graft healing was assessed on magnetic resonance imaging using the graft signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ). Multivariate regression and correlation analyses were performed to determine any associations between volumetric changes in bone healing and operative variables. Results:At 6 months after ACLR, a mean of 63.2% of the tibial loop tunnel was filled by bone. Multivariate regression analysis showed that remnant preservation was significantly associated with the loop tunnel filling rate (P < .001). At 1 year after ACLR, the tibial loop tunnel was almost completely closed (98.5%). There were no correlations between loop tunnel volume and graft integration or graft SNQ. A significant but weak correlation was found between graft tunnel volume and intratunnel graft SNQ (P = .10) as well as integration grade in the tibial tunnel (P = .30). Conclusion:Excellent bone filling in the tibial loop tunnel was seen at 1 year after ACLR. Remnant preservation was significantly associated with the loop tunnel filling rate. A weak correlation was found between graft tunnel volume and intratunnel graft SNQ as well as integration grade in the tibial tunnel.