1. ACL Reconstruction: The Anatomic Approach
Steven P. Brantley, MD
Spero G. Karas, MD
Head Team Physician- Atlanta Falcons
Team Physician- Georgia Tech Baseball
Associate Professor of Orthopaedics
Director, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship
Emory Healthcare Sports Medicine

2. Background ACL is second most commonly injured ligament in the knee
ACL rupture is estimated to occur in 1 in 3000 people in the U.S.
Resulting in an estimated 100,000 reconstructions a year
6th most common orthopaedic procedure performed in the U.S.

3. ACL Anatomy
ACL origin: posterior aspect of the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle
It courses anteriorly and medially to insert on the tibial plateau in an area medial to the insertion of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus and anterolateral to the the anterior tibial spine

4. ACL Anatomy 1o blood supply from the middle geniculate artery
Its osseous attachments provide little to its vascularity
Innervation from the posterior articular nerve

5. ACL’s Two Bundles ACL Consist of 2 bundles Anteromedial (AM) bundle
Originates more proximally and posteriorly.
Inserts anteriorly and medial.
Posterolateral (PL) bundle

6. Two Bundles
AM and PL bundle tension different depending on the position of the knee:
90o flexion: the AM bundle taut while the PL bundle relaxed.
Full extension: the PL bundle tensed and the AM bundle relaxed
Girgis et al, CORR 1975 PL AM

8. Pictures Courtesy Dr. Freddie Fu, M.D.

9. ACL Biomechanics
The ACL functions to resist anterior translation of the tibia on the femur
AM bundle
Provides 85% of resistance to the anterior drawer in 90o of flexion
Resists tibial rotation
PL bundle
Helps provide varus-valgus stability when the knee is in full extension.

10. ACL Injuries
The majority of ACL injuries occur from non-contact injuries
Pivot shift injury
Occurs as individual decelerates and try to change directions abruptly or lands from a jump
Females are 6 times more likely to suffer an ACL tear as their male counterparts

11. ACL Tear

12. Goals of ACL Reconstruction
To provide a stable and pain-free knee under physiologic loads
To provide an expedient return to previous level of function

13. Goal of ACL Reconstruction
To help prevent future injury to the meniscus and cartilage
To help prevent future degenerative arthritis- ?

14. ACL Reconstruction
Jones et al in 1963 JBJS was 1st to describe modern technique of ACL reconstruction.
Used Patellar tendon attached distally to reconstruct ACL in 12 patients.

15. ACL Reconstruction
Despite advances in surgical technique and rehabilitation protocols, there are still failures of ACLR
Only 78% of athletes in the WNBA have been able to return to sport after undergoing ACL reconstruction.
Namdari S et al, Physician and Sports Med, 2011

16. Risk of ACL Reinjury
The rates of re-tearing after ACL reconstruction ranges from 3-30% in the literature
Biggest Risk Factor:
RTP < 7 months- 15.3%
RTP > 7 months- 5.2%
Laboute et al Ann Phys Med Rehab, 2010

17. Traditional ACL Reconstruction
Traditional ACL reconstructions placed femoral tunnel in a vertical non-anatomic position.
Reconstructed primarily the AM bundle but not the PM.
Picture Courtesy Dr. Freddie Fu.

18. Traditional ACL Reconstuction
With AM bundle reconstructed anterior translation controlled- negative Lachman’s Exam.
Not very good rotatory stability- continued pivot shift.

19. Abnormal Mechanics
Tashman et al in AJSM 2004 demonstrated abnormal external rotation of the tibia and limb adduction during running activities in patient who had underwent nonanatomical ACL reconstruction.
Woo et al in JBJS 2002 illustrated in cadavers that a conventional single bundle ACL was successful in restoring anterior translation control, but was ineffective at restoring the native ACL’s rotatory stability.

20. Double Bundle ACL Reconstruction
Attempts to restore both the AM and PL bundle of ACL
Restore both anterior translation and rotatory control

21. Double Bundle
Yagi et al in AJSM 2002 demonstrated in cadeveric studies that double bundle ACL reconstruction restored anterior translation and rotatory control significantly closer to that of the native ACL than did a single bundle reconstruction.
Had 97% and 91% of the in situ forces of the intact ACL for controlling anterior tibial translation and rotation compared to 89% and 66% for the single bundle non-anatomic reconstruction.

22. Double Bundle ACL- Is it the Answer?
Technically more difficult
Limited in graft selection
May over constrain the knee, Markolf et al in JBJS 2008

23. AOSSM Traveling Fellowship 2005

24. Single Bundle Anatomical ACL Reconstruction
Places bone tunnels in correct anatomical positions in hopes of restoring knee mechanics closer to natural ACL
Improves rotatory stability

25. Anatomic Reconstruction
Pictures Courtesy of Dr. Freddie Fu

26. Bone Tunnels
Tunnels are drilled independently to allow for anatomic positioning of tunnels
Allows for a more oblique graft in the coronal and sagittal plane
This orientation better prevents pivot shift

27. Bone Tunnels
Traditional ACL reconstruction uses a trans-tibial approach to drill the femoral tunnel
This places tibial tunnel too posterior in order to drill in the anatomic femoral position
Strauss et al in AJSM 2011 demonstrated in a cadaveric study that it is not possible to drill an anatomic femoral tunnel through an anatomic tibial tunnel position
Placed femoral tunnel too superior and posterior to anatomic position

29. Femoral Tunnel
Able to drill an anatomic femoral tunnel by adding an accessory medial portal or placing medial portal more medial than normal

30. Femoral Tunnel

31. Trans-Tibial Approach?

32. Tunnel Position
Loh et al in Arthroscopy 2003 looked at knee stability in a cadaveric model comparing ACL reconstruction with either the femoral tunnel in the 11 o’clock or 10 o’clock position.
Demonstrated that the 10 o’clock position was more effective in resisting rotatory loads.
No difference between the two positions in preventing anterior tibial translation.

33. Anatomic ACL Reconstruction: Single vs. Double Bundle
Kondo E et al in AJSM 2011 performed a biomechanical study comparing anterior translation and pivot shift stability in double bundle, anatomic single bundle, and trans-tibial ACL reconstruction
The double bundle and anatomic single bundle ACL reconstructions demonstrated significantly improved rotational stability compared to the nonanatomic reconstruction
No difference biomechanically detected between the anatomic double and single bundle reconstruction

34. Anatomic Reconstuction vs Non-Anatomic
Sadoghi P et al in Athroscopy 2011 compared clinical outcomes of patient who underwent either anatomic or non-anatomic single bundle ACL reconstruction
Found that anatomic ACL reconstruction had significantly improved outcomes in clinical scores and rotatory stability when compared to non-anatomic reconstruction

35. Conclusion Rotatory control a key to restoring function
Non-anatomic “vertical” ACL reconstruction does not restore the rotatory stability of the native ACL
Single-bundle anatomic ACL reconstruction decreases the pivot shift phenomenon and more closely mimics native ACL biomechanics

36. Spero G. Karas, MD
Thank You !