Beneficial Effect of Curved Dilator System for Femoral Tunnel Creation in Preventing Femoral Tunnel Widening after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

Backgrounds and objectives: A prevalent concern in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is postoperative tunnel widening. We hypothesized that employing a curved dilator system (CDS) for femoral tunnel creation can reduce this widening after ACL reconstruction compared to the use of a conventional rigid reamer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 56 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between January 2012 and July 2013. The patients were categorized into two groups: the reamer group (n = 28) and CDS group (n = 28). All participants were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Clinical assessment included the Lachman test and pivot-shift test, and the Lysholm score and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee scores. Radiographic evaluation covered the tunnel widening rate, represented as the ratio of the tunnel diameter 2 years after surgery to the tunnel diameter immediately after surgery, and the ratio (A/B) of femoral tunnel (A) to tibial tunnel (B) diameters at respective time points. Results: No significant disparities were found between the two groups in terms of clinical outcomes. However, the reamer group exhibited a greater femoral tunnel widening rate compared to the CDS group (reamer group vs. CDS group: 142.7 ± 22.0% vs. 128.0 ± 19.0% on the anteroposterior (AP) radiograph and 140.8 ± 14.2% vs. 122.9 ± 13.4% on the lateral radiograph; all p < 0.05). Two years post-operation, the A/B ratio rose in the reamer group (0.96 ± 0.05→1.00 ± 0.05 on the AP radiograph and 0.94 ± 0.03→1.00 ± 0.0.04 on the lateral radiograph; all p < 0.05), while it decreased in the CDS group (0.99 ± 0.02→0.96 ± 0.05 on the AP radiograph and 0.97 ± 0.03→0.93 ± 0.06 on the lateral radiograph; all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of CDS for femoral tunnel creation in primary ACL reconstruction provides a potential advantage by limiting tunnel widening compared to the conventional rigid-reamer approach.