Anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with 70° arthroscope for better placement of Femoral and Tibial Tunnels

Abstract

The 70° arthroscope in knee surgery is frequently used in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. There are previous reports of its use in anterior cruciate ligament surgery, but it has not achieved routine use. With the move toward anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), it is recognized that accurate tunnel placement is vital for a good clinical outcome. The 70° arthroscope provides an excellent view of the femoral and tibial footprints and a view of the full length of the femoral and tibial tunnels through a single anterolateral viewing portal, which is very important for anatomic ACLR. This technique for creating femoral tunnel through AL portal is easy and avoids instrument overcrowding, particularly in patients with small knees in our country. To the best of our knowledge, we first started using 70° arthroscope regularly for ACLR in our country.