European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 17 - Number 3
Eur J Anat, 17 (3): 176-181 (2013)

Anthropometric references for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in the anatomical position

Gustavo A. Compeán-Martínez1, Félix Vilchez-Cavazos2, Carlos Acosta-Oscar F. Mendoza-Lemus2, Oscar de la Garza-Castro1, Rosa I. Guzmán1, Rodrigo E. Elizondo-Omaña*1 and Santos Guzmán López1

1Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico and 2Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Hospital Universitario, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico

ABSTRACT Recent anatomical and biomechanical studieshave established that the anatomical position inthe reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) is ideal because this position resultsin a lower placement of the femoral tunnels,which provides optimal biomechanical function ofthe graft, and because anterior translation androtational stability are controlled. Ten femurs (fiveleft and five right) and ten tibias (five left and fiveright) were dissected to analyze the various bonyprominences of the lateral wall of the intercondylarfossa. Parameters were also established forthe measurement of the ACL and its anteromedialand posterolateral bundles. Regarding theresults in the medial wall of the lateral femoralcondyle, different bony landmarks were considered,such as the distances from the bonecartilagetransition of anterior and posterior pointof femoral condyle to the bifurcated ridge obtaining7.68 + 2.15 mm and 7.99 + 2.15 mm, respectively. On the tibial bone we considered thelength between the free edges of lateral and medialmenisci, to the medial and lateral edges ofanterior cruciate ligament (ACL), finding a distanceof 2.5 cm + 1.20mm. All these referencesduring knee arthroscopy are useful to the sur-geon, providing tools for the proper placement ofthe tunnels used in the reconstruction surgery ofthe ACL.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament, Femoraltunnels, Reconstruction of ACL, Anterior cruciateligament bundles

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)