Knee stabiligy after ACL reconstruction through graft fixation in femoral tunnel: transfemoral pinning versus endobutton techniques

One of the most common orthopedic complaints is direct or indirect trauma to the knee with torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Reconstruction of the torn ACL is emphatically offered in active individuals as by this operation, we prevent osteoarthritis, knee instability and injury to the meniscus. There are numerous methods for graft fixation in the femoral tunnel in ACL reconstruction. If the graft proves to be stable after the operation, patients would not complain of giving way knee joints. In this clinical trial, we compared transfemoral pinning with endobutton fixation of hamstring graft in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by examining knee stability and use of other relevant functional tests. Fourteen Patients who had undergone arthroscopic ACL reconstruction in Shariati Hospital during the years 2008-2009 and were being followed up were evaluated at least 15 months post-operatively by physical examination and the use of an arthrometer made by the Faculty of Mechanics of Sharif Technical University. The results showed that two out of seven patients in which their ACL had been reconstructed by hamstring graft fixation by endobutton technique, and in one out of seven patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction by hamstring graft fixation through transfemoral pinning, Lachmann test (in 25 position) was greater than 5 mm but there were not any complaints of giving way knee joints. The clinical results of ACL reconstruction by transfemoral pinning technique seems to be superior to the reconstruction by endobutton technique.