Influence of the Tibial Tunnel Angle and Posterior Tibial Slope on “Killer Turn” during Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of various posterior tibial slopes (PTSs) and tibial tunnel angles (TTAs) on “killer turn” in posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction by using three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). The study models were created using computed tomography images of a healthy young Asian male. Using SolidWorks, PCL grafts and tibial bone tunnels at different tibial drilling angles (30°, 45°, 60°) were developed. Anterior opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (aOW-HTO) was performed to evaluate the influence of the PTS (+8°, +4°, native, −4°, −8°). An FEA was performed utilizing the ANSYS software program. In the same PTS model, the peak of the equivalent Von Mises stress in PCL grafts decreased as the angle of the TTA increased. In the same TTA model, the peak of the Von Mises in PCL grafts decreased as the PTS angle increased. The “high-contact stress area” (contact stress greater than 10 MPa) was diminished when the TTA and PTS were increased. aOW-HTO was used to steepen the PTS, and a larger TTA may reduce the stress at the “killer turn” during PCL reconstruction. In conclusion, the study findings suggest that using aOW-HTO to steepen the PTS and a larger TTA may reduce the stress at the “killer turn” during PCL reconstruction. The usefulness and safety of this surgical procedure need to be evaluated in future clinical studies.