Published online Aug 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i8.744
Revised: May 30, 2024
Accepted: July 9, 2024
Published online: August 18, 2024
Processing time: 207 Days and 15.6 Hours
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be used to assess knee function following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Intra-operatively, femoral and tibial tunnels are created to accommodate the new ACL graft. It is postulated that there is an optimum position and orientation of these tunnels and that outcomes from this procedure are affected by their position.
To evaluate the influence of graft tunnel position on early to mid-term clinical outcomes following ACL reconstruction.
Six PROMs were collected following ACL reconstruction which included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documen
A total of 87 patients were included in the study with a mean post-operative follow-up of 2.3 years (range 1 to 7 years). Posterior position of tibial tunnel was associated with improved KOOS quality of life (rho = 0.43, P = 0.002) and EQ-5D VAS (rho = 0.36, P = 0.010). Anterior position of EndoButton femoral tunnel was associated with an improved EQ-5D index (rho = -0.38, P = 0.028). There were no other significant correlations between any of the other radiological parameters and PROM scores.
Overall, graft tunnel position had very little correlation with clinical outcomes following ACL reconstruction. A few (posterior) tibial tunnel and (anterior) EndoButton femoral tunnel measurements were associated with better PROMs.
Core Tip: This is an observational cross-sectional study investigating the effect of graft tunnel position following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and its association with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). PROMs were collected before and at a minimum of 12 months following surgery. The results of these questionnaires were analysed to determine whether radiological measurements of graft tunnel position had a significant impact on early to mid-term clinical outcomes. If significance is found, it is important to determine the most optimal position for the tunnels to improve patients’ function following these procedures.