INTRODUCTION: Serial dilation of the bone tunnel has been reported to create a tighter graft-tunnel fit. It was hypothesized that a serial dilation of the femoral bone tunnel would increase the initial fixation strength in press-fit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initial fixation strength of the femoral press-fit fixation technique was investigated in 72 porcine specimens in an ex vivo study by varying the femoral tunnel preparation technique. Extraction-drilling, tunnel dilation by 1 mm and dilation by 2.5 mm were assessed. Initial fixation strength of press-fit fixated patellar tendon-bone grafts was tested within each preparation group conducting a single cycle (and cyclic) load to failure protocol. The resulting tunnel diameter and the porcine femoral bone mineral density were determined using microradiographs and peripheral quantitative CT scans, respectively. RESULTS: Dilating a previously extraction-drilled femoral bone tunnel by 1 mm significantly enhances initial press-fit fixation strength in both single cycle and cyclic load to failure testing when compared to extraction-drilling and tunnel dilation by 2.5 mm. Due to an initial spring-back effect the resulting diameter of the femoral tunnel was underestimated by 3.3% with drilling and 6.7 and 12.2% with dilation by 1 and 2.5 mm, respectively. Volumetric trabecular bone mineral density at the site corresponding to the area of tunnel placement averaged 318 mg/cm(3). CONCLUSION: Dilating a femoral tunnel that is underdrilled by 1 mm appears to be a reasonable technical procedure in order to enhance initial fixation strength of press-fit ACL graft fixation.
INTRODUCTION: Serial dilation of the bone tunnel has been reported to create a tighter graft-tunnel fit. It was hypothesized that a serial dilation of the femoral bone tunnel would increase the initial fixation strength in press-fit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initial fixation strength of the femoral press-fit fixation technique was investigated in 72 porcine specimens in an ex vivo study by varying the femoral tunnel preparation technique. Extraction-drilling, tunnel dilation by 1 mm and dilation by 2.5 mm were assessed. Initial fixation strength of press-fit fixated patellar tendon-bone grafts was tested within each preparation group conducting a single cycle (and cyclic) load to failure protocol. The resulting tunnel diameter and the porcine femoral bone mineral density were determined using microradiographs and peripheral quantitative CT scans, respectively. RESULTS: Dilating a previously extraction-drilled femoral bone tunnel by 1 mm significantly enhances initial press-fit fixation strength in both single cycle and cyclic load to failure testing when compared to extraction-drilling and tunnel dilation by 2.5 mm. Due to an initial spring-back effect the resulting diameter of the femoral tunnel was underestimated by 3.3% with drilling and 6.7 and 12.2% with dilation by 1 and 2.5 mm, respectively. Volumetric trabecular bone mineral density at the site corresponding to the area of tunnel placement averaged 318 mg/cm(3). CONCLUSION: Dilating a femoral tunnel that is underdrilled by 1 mm appears to be a reasonable technical procedure in order to enhance initial fixation strength of press-fit ACL graft fixation.
Authors: Fotios Paul Tjoumakaris; Amy L Herz-Brown; Andrea L Bowers; Andrea Legath-Bowers; Brian J Sennett; Joseph Bernstein Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2011-11-16 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Britta Florvaag; Peter Kneuertz; Frank Lazar; Jürgen Koebke; Joachim E Zöller; Bert Braumann; Robert A Mischkowski Journal: J Orofac Orthop Date: 2010-02-05 Impact factor: 1.938
Authors: Janosch Häberli; Maximilian Heilgemeir; Sebastian Valet; Ameet Aiyangar; Tom Overes; Philipp Henle; Stefan Eggli Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2021-08-30 Impact factor: 2.928