Arthroscopic technology and istrumentation continues to improve the orthopaedic surgeh´s ability ot perform less invasive procedures in the knee. The authors analyzed 41 patients of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a bone
patella
tendon-bone autograft experienced in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chung-Ang university from June 1990 to March 1993.
Group I consisted of 23 patients in whom the screw was placed using a rear entry technique. Group II patients (18 patients) underwent arthroscopically assisted intraarticular placement of the screw (endoscopic technique). We evaluated
roentgenographically to compare the position of the femoral interference screws in the two groups.
The anterior-posterior and lateral screw angles are significnatly different when comparing the rear entry technique with the endoscopic technique. In addition, the placement of the femoral screw had an associated divergence of the screw relative
to
the
bone plug in two techniques. Endoscopically placed screws showed more significant divergence than rear entry technique, defined as ≥5°difference, in 11 of 18 screws, for an incidence of 61% (rear entry technique: 26%). In conclusion,
radiographic
difference do exist between femoral interference screws placed for fixation of an ACL graft using the rear entry and those placed endoscopically. Although the clinical significance is not yet known, we raise the question of greater divergence in
femoral
interference screw placement with the newer endoscopic interference techniques.
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