Tibial and femoral tunnel enlargement and effect on isokinetic muscle strenght after arthroscopic single bundle and double bundle acl reconstruction; A prospective, randomized study

The purpose of this study is to compare the early postoperative tunnel enlargement and it's effect on isokinetic muscle force in patients who were treated with either single bundle or double bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction Between November 2007 and March 2008, patients who had a diagnosis of ACL rupture and who had surgical indication with no prior knee surgery history with regular clinical follow-up were enrolled for this study at Baskent University Adana Research and Training Center. A total of 34 patients (33 males (avarege age 28.7) and 1 female (age 24) with an avarege age of 28.6 (range:19-40) were included for the final analysis. The study group were randomized in two groups and isokinetic mucle testing for quadriceps strenght with 60o/sc, 120o/sc ve 180o/sc velocities were performed and compared with the unaffected knee by Biodex 3 (Biodex Medical System NY USA) dynomometer. Eighteen patients (17 male, 1 female) with an avarage of 27.25 (range: 19-35) were undergone single bundle reconstruction and 16 patients with an avarage age of 30.1 (range:20-40) were undergone double bundle reconstruction. In the postoperative second and third months, only 3-d computed tomography scans were performed. In the sixth month postoperatively, 3-d computed tomography and isokinetic muscle testing were repeated. Each tunnel was divided into 6 equal pieces (L1-L6) and tunnel width was evaluated at coronal and sagittal plans and tunnel area was evaluated by the same areas at the aixal plans. There were no significant difference between isokinetic muscle testing for single bundle and double bundle reconstructions in the preoperative and postoperative period. Đn addition, no statistically significant difference was found for the width and area examinations of the tunnels between second, third and sixth months of 3-d computed tomography scans. Although double bundle reconstrucion had a more normal phsyology than single bundle reconstruction, surgeon must consider the need for a double bundle surgery in the preoperative period.