Validation of computer-assisted double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to establish the reliability of a navigation system for femoral tunnel placement in arthroscopic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Guidewires were inserted to the center of the anteromedial and posterolateral femoral tunnels of eight porcine knees using an image-free navigation system. The relative position of the guidewires in reference to the height and depth of the lateral condyle was determined by the navigation system and a digital camera and compared. The average differences in high-low and deep-shallow position between the two measurement systems were 2.6% +/- 1.3% (range, 0.6%-4.9%) and 1.6% +/- 1.4% (range, 0.1%-4.0%) for the anteromedial tunnels and 2.7% +/- 1.4% (range, 0%-3.9%) and 2.6% +/- 1.3% (range, 1.1%-4.3%) for the posterolateral tunnels. The data suggest that the navigation system provided surgeons with reliable information to determine the femoral tunnel location in arthroscopic double-bundle ACL reconstruction.