Method for visualising and measuring the position of the femoral attachment of the ACL and ACL grafts in experimental work.

We describe a technique to visualise and then to measure the position of the ACL femoral attachment. A method for removal and accurate replacement of the medial femoral condyle is described. This was shown to provide wide exposure of the intercondylar notch without affecting A-P laxity significantly. A method for navigating around the ACL femoral attachment, using orthogonal micrometers working from a datum at the centre of the posterior lateral femoral condyle, with the diameter of the condyle as a normalising dimension, is also described. The accuracy of these methods was assessed, and they are recommended for experimental work on the ACL.