Tibial tunnel enlargement following anterior cruciate reconstruction: does post-operative immobilisation make a difference?

The aetiology of tunnel enlargement following anterior cruciate reconstruction is still not fully understood. We studied, with particular reference to the tibial tunnel appearances, a group of 28 patients 1 year from anterior cruciate reconstruction by a four-strand hamstring technique. Fourteen underwent accelerated rehabilitation and 14 were immobilised post-operatively for 2 weeks following reconstruction. Tunnel enlargement was significantly greater in the immobilised group. There was no significant correlation between tunnel enlargement and the clinical result at 1-year post-reconstruction.