Study of tibial tunnel diameter in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by minimal implant surgical technique

Background: Knee injuries are more common now days due to increase case of RTA and active participation on sports activities. The ACL tear prevalence is rising in the modern setting, mainly due to increased participation of adolescents in high-risk sports and increased use of advanced diagnostic imaging measures for ligament injury detection. Objective: To assess the percentage change in tibial tunnel diameter at the time of stitch removal (10th post op day) to the at 6 months postoperative with the aid of Xray in cases of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by minimal implant surgical technique. Materials and Method: The Study was held at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi between January 2021 and June 2021. Calculated sample size was 24 patients who have undergone for the surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with quadruple graft of semitendinosus tendon by minimal implant surgical technique. Patients with complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture with instability of the knee diagnosed by MRI. Patients undergone for minimal implant surgery. Radiographs of the operated knees of each patient were performed in the postoperative period, the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (P) views at 6 months+/- 2 weeks. And we compared it with the tibial tunnel diameter at the time of stitch removal (10th post op day) to find out the percentage change in tibial tunnel diameter. Results: Mean age of the patients was 28.71±10. meantibial tunnel diameter of the patients at the time of stitch removal was 8.88±0.85mm. In AP and lateral view of x-ray tibial tunnel diameter was changed in only 4 patients at 6 month follow up study. Conclusion Study showed that there was no statistically significant percentage change in tibial tunnel diameter was present in AP and lateral view of x-ray at 6 month follow up study by minimal implant surgical technique.