Clinical Outcome of Remnant-Preserving and I.D.E.A.L. Femoral Tunnel Technique for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Objective: To assess the clinical results of the remnant-preserving and I.D.E.A.L. femoral tunnel technique in the arthroscopic treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-center, single-surgeon study reviewing data from November 2016 to March 2019. Based on our inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 31 patients (18 males, 13 females; mean age, 23.6 years) who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with the remnant preservation and I.D.E.A.L. femoral tunnel technique were recruited and had a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Clinical data and status of knee stability were recorded. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale were collected both preoperatively and at a minimum of 1-year follow-up.

Results: Statistically significant differences were detected between the preoperative and postoperative values for Lachman test and pivot-shift test (P < 0.01). The mean postoperative Lysholm score was 89.6 ± 9.4, whereas the mean preoperative Lysholm score was 47.3 ± 12.8 (P < 0.01). The mean Tegner activity score was significantly higher at postoperative evaluation than at preoperative evaluation (6.5 ± 2.1 vs 2.6 ± 1.8; P < 0.01). The mean IKDC score was significantly improved from 49.5 ± 10.6 preoperatively to 88.2 ± 10.7 postoperatively (P < 0.01). No case of infection was reported. No radiograph showed any joint space narrowing or degenerative change at the last postsurgical follow-up.

Conclusion: The anatomical remnant-preserving and I.D.E.A.L. femoral tunnel technique achieves a satisfactory clinical outcome and provides an effective option for the treatment of ACL injuries.