Single-Stage Anterior Cruciate Ligament Revision Reconstruction Using an Allograft Bone Dowel for a Malpositioned and Widened Femoral Tunnel

Abstract

Tunnel widening, osteolysis, and/or malposition can be a cause of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction failure and a challenging problem to treat when performing revision ACL reconstruction (RACLR). Traditionally, problematic tunnels that interfere with bony stability and incorporation of the new graft at the time of revision have been treated with staged procedures—bone grafting first, followed by a return several months later for the revision reconstruction after bony incorporation has occurred. Multiple staged procedures increase the level of risk the patient may encounter and increase cost and resource utilization. In addition, they prolong the recovery period for the patient. In recent years, several studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes of performing bone grafting of tunnels and concomitant RACLR in a single-stage setting in an effort to mitigate these issues. We describe a technique by which a malpositioned and widened femoral tunnel from a primary ACL failure is treated with bone grafting using an allograft dowel, as well as immediate RACLR using a bone–patellar tendon–bone allograft.