Characterization of cruciate ligament impingement: the influence of femoral or tibial tunnel positioning at different degrees of knee flexion

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to analyze how different positions of the tibial and femoral tunnels when used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction affect relations with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) at different degrees of knee flexion. Information gained from this study may be helpful in determining optimal placement of the graft in ACL reconstructive surgery.

Methods: We divided 10 cadaveric knees into 2 groups of 5 and had either their femoral or tibial ACL insertion detached. For each specimen, 16 different positions were reproduced during ACL reconstruction based on a combination of 4 different tunnels in the tibia for group A (anterior-medial, anterior-lateral, posterior-medial, and posterior-lateral) and 4 in the femur for group B (anterior-proximal, anterior-distal, posterior-proximal, and posterior-distal) with 4° of knee flexion for each (0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°). We performed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study for each configuration and analyzed the cruciate ligament positioning.

Results: We identified 3 different situations: no contact between cruciate ligaments, contact without deformity, and contact with deformity. In group A, the degree of flexion (P = .003) and ligament insertion positioned in the posterior quadrants (P < .05) were statistically significant for the presence of ACL impingement. Ligament contact with deformity was identified in 18 (22.5%) configurations, mostly when the knee was flexed 45° and 90° and the ACL was in the posterior quadrants. For group B, "contact with deformity" was identified in 23 MR images, mostly (12 cases) with the graft position being in the anterior-distal configuration, but it was not significant for the occurrence of cruciate impingement.

Conclusions: Impingement with ligament deformity is greater when the graft is fixed at the posterior quadrants of the tibial footprint, regardless of the degree of knee flexion. Although quite common, the ligament position in the femoral footprint was not a primary cause of ACL impingement with deformity.

Clinical relevance: This study helps identify positions of the tibial or femoral tunnels during ACL reconstruction to avoid impingement between cruciate ligaments.