Arthroscopic Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Anatomic Approach

Abstract 

The anterior cruciate ligament consists of 2 functional bundles, the anteromedial and the posterolateral bundle. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has traditionally focused on recreating the anteromedial bundle, while the reconstruction of the posteromedial bundle has not routinely been addressed. The authors, from 2 academic centers, present a technique of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction that restores both the anteromedial and the posterolateral bundle using either semitendinosus and gracilis autografts or tibialis anterior allografts. This technique represents a novel approach to restore the anteromedial and the posterolateral bundle at their anatomic insertion sites on both the tibia and the femur through separate bone tunnels. We believe that our double-bundle anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction closely reapproximates the native insertion sites of the anterior cruciate ligament on the tibia and the femur while more closely recreating the biomechanical function of the native ligament.

Key Words:  Anterior cruciate ligament , Reconstruction , Double-bundle , Anteromedial bundle , Posterolateral bundle , Arthroscopy