Transtibial Femoral Tunnel Technique in ACL Reconstruction and Osteoarthritis Incidence

Abstract

Objectives Evaluate osteoarthritis incidence in patients that undergone ACL reconstruction using the transtibial technique, with a minimum of 5 years of follow up, with isolated ACL injury. Methods Patients from a private clinic who underwent to ACL reconstruction by transtibial technique, with hamstrings graft, and with at least 5 years of follow-up, without any associated injury to the operated knee at the day of the surgery, were selected. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. The patients were invited to perform X-Ray images of the operated knee to assess the presence of osteoarthritis. The Kellgren & Lawrence radiographic osteoarthritis classification was used. The grade I classification was already considered as the presence of osteoarthritis. The obtained results were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics, ie, obtaining the percentage of patients with osteoarthritis among those analyzed. Patients were also divided into 2 groups: between 5 and 10 of surgery, and with more than 10 years. The obtained data were evaluated by descriptive statistics. Results Forty-two patients (44 knees) were evaluated, with a mean age of 31 years old (SD: 8), being 23 right knees and 28 male patients. Mean time from surgery to imaging evaluation was 94.1 months (ranging from 60 to 154 months; SD: 28). Of the evaluated knees, 37 did not have osteoarthritis (83.3%) and 7 had (16.7%). Conclusion The ACL reconstruction performing the femoral tunnel through the transtibial technique in patients without another associated injuries to the operated knee, using quadruple hamstring graft, with a minimum of 5 years of follow up, showed an osteoarthritis incidence of 16.7% with a mean follow-up of 94.1 months.