Measurement of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Angles in Single-Bundle Reconstruction Using the Anteromedial Portal

The purpose of this study was to measure the graft angles of reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with anteromedial (AM) portal technique in single-bundle reconstruction.

Between October 2007 and October 2009, a total of 53 consec­utive patients receiving arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with AM portal technique were enrolled in this cohort study. The placement of ACL femoral tunnel was within the femoral footprint of ACL. All the patients underwent postoperative computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and radiological examinations, as well as clinical evaluations. Both knees of these patients were measured to compare the ACL angles.

The mean sagittal ACL angle in operated knees was 52.88°±2.78°, compared with 51.89°±1.95° in the con­tralateral knees (P >.05). The mean ACL-Blumensaat line angle was 4.96°±0.77° in operated knees and 4.49°±0.83° in contralateral knees (P >.05). The com­puted tomography value (32.8%±5.6%) was also close to the position of the native femoral tunnel.

Drilling the femoral tunnel through the AM portal can place the entry point of femoral tunnel precisely in the footprint, resembling the orientation of a native ACL.