Anterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Tunnel Creation by Use of Anteromedial Portal

Abstract

I read with interest the recent article by Harner et al.1Harner C.D. Honkamp N.J. Ranawat A.S. Anteromedial portal technique for creating the anterior cruciate ligament femoral tunnel.Arthroscopy. 2008; 24: 113-115Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (183) Google Scholar entitled “Anteromedial Portal Technique for Creating the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Tunnel,” published in the January 2008 issue of Arthroscopy. They present a technique for femoral tunnel preparation using the anteromedial (AM) portal for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The method is an alternative to the transtibial approach used by many surgeons to create the femoral tunnel. As stated, the AM portal approach gives much greater latitude to place the femoral guide pin and, therefore, the femoral tunnel(s). The use of this method is indispensable when performing double-bundle ACL reconstruction. The technique has been used for many years by some surgeons, most notably Dr. Leo Pinczewski from Sydney, Australia, who has been a proponent of this method for more than 10 years.The technique of preparing the femoral tunnel by use of the AM portal in ACL reconstruction was first described by Bottoni et al.2Bottoni C.R. Rooney C.R. Harpstrite J.K. Kan D.A. Ensuring accurate femoral guide pin placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Am J Orthop. 1998; 28: 764-766Google Scholar after a visit to Dr. Pinczewski by our Chief of Sports Medicine at that time, at Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii), Dr. John Wilckens. Our article, entitled “Ensuring Accurate Femoral Guide Pin Placement in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction,” was published in 1998 in The American Journal of Orthopedics.2Bottoni C.R. Rooney C.R. Harpstrite J.K. Kan D.A. Ensuring accurate femoral guide pin placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Am J Orthop. 1998; 28: 764-766Google Scholar We still use this excellent technique and believe it is indispensable in the armamentarium of surgeons performing ACL reconstructions but most importantly for those performing revision and double-bundle reconstructions. I read with interest the recent article by Harner et al.1Harner C.D. Honkamp N.J. Ranawat A.S. Anteromedial portal technique for creating the anterior cruciate ligament femoral tunnel.Arthroscopy. 2008; 24: 113-115Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (183) Google Scholar entitled “Anteromedial Portal Technique for Creating the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Tunnel,” published in the January 2008 issue of Arthroscopy. They present a technique for femoral tunnel preparation using the anteromedial (AM) portal for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The method is an alternative to the transtibial approach used by many surgeons to create the femoral tunnel. As stated, the AM portal approach gives much greater latitude to place the femoral guide pin and, therefore, the femoral tunnel(s). The use of this method is indispensable when performing double-bundle ACL reconstruction. The technique has been used for many years by some surgeons, most notably Dr. Leo Pinczewski from Sydney, Australia, who has been a proponent of this method for more than 10 years. The technique of preparing the femoral tunnel by use of the AM portal in ACL reconstruction was first described by Bottoni et al.2Bottoni C.R. Rooney C.R. Harpstrite J.K. Kan D.A. Ensuring accurate femoral guide pin placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Am J Orthop. 1998; 28: 764-766Google Scholar after a visit to Dr. Pinczewski by our Chief of Sports Medicine at that time, at Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii), Dr. John Wilckens. Our article, entitled “Ensuring Accurate Femoral Guide Pin Placement in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction,” was published in 1998 in The American Journal of Orthopedics.2Bottoni C.R. Rooney C.R. Harpstrite J.K. Kan D.A. Ensuring accurate femoral guide pin placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Am J Orthop. 1998; 28: 764-766Google Scholar We still use this excellent technique and believe it is indispensable in the armamentarium of surgeons performing ACL reconstructions but most importantly for those performing revision and double-bundle reconstructions.