High variability in anterior cruciate ligament femoral footprint: Implications for anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to (1) investigate the variability of the femoral ACL center in ACL-ruptured patients, (2) identify whether the currently available over-the-top femoral ACL guides could allow for anatomical reconstruction of the native ACL footprint.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Magnetic resonance images of 95 knees with an ACL rupture were used to create three-dimensional models of the femur. The femoral ACL footprint area was outlined on each model, and the location of the femoral ACL center was reported using an anatomical coordinate system. The distance of the femoral ACL center from the over-the-top position was measured.

RESULTS

The femoral ACL center demonstrated a high intersubject variability ranging from 1.8 mm (9%) to 12.3 mm (60%) posterior and from 7.7 mm (37%) distal to 4.8 mm (23%) proximal using the posterior condyle circle reference. The average distance of the femoral ACL center from the over-the-top position was 1.9 ± 1.5 mm posterior and 13.8 ± 2.7 mm distal, respectively. The contemporary over-the-top femoral ACL aimers could restore the femoral ACL center in only 6.5% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The femoral ACL center demonstrated a high variation on its location, which resulted in a high intersubject variability from the over-the-top position. The contemporary over-the-top femoral tunnel guides do not provide sufficient offset to allow for an anatomical ACL reconstruction. Anteromedial-portal specific femoral ACL guides with a femoral offset ranging from 10 to 18 mm in the proximal/distal direction are required to restore the native ACL footprint.