Effects of different double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions on femur stress

Abstract

No quantitative data were reported in the literature regarding the effects of different techniques in double-bundle ACL reconstruction on femur stress. In this study models of the intact, double-femoral double-tibial tunnel the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (DF-DT), single-femoral double-tibial tunnel the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (SF-DT) were built at flexion angles of 0°, 25°, 60° and 80° based on the MRI images of the normal human. Then combined torques (10 N-m valgus and 5 N-m external femoral torques) were applied to the three pairs of three-dimensional finite element models, the biomechanical effects of different techniques in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions on femur stress were investigated through the maximum von Mises stresses of the transverse and sagittal sections. With the techniques of SF-DT, the stresses in the bone around the tunnel are more closed to those with the intact ACL. That is to say, SF-DT may have advantages over DF-DT. This study not only provides technical data to improve the reconstruction quality, but also supplies a method for the assessment of ACL reconstruction.