Coracoclavicular ligaments anatomical reconstruction: a feasibility study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomechanical engineering
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Assessing the feasibility of anatomical coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction.
• Utilizing three-dimensional (3D) measurement and virtual drilling for surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different drilling techniques for CC ligament reconstruction.
• To determine the risk of cortical breach during virtual tunnel preparation.

Main Methods:

• Construction of 105 3D shoulder models from CT scan data using SuperImage software.
• Definition and adjustment of CC ligament attachment sites and footprint dimensions.
• Application of collinear and non-collinear drilling techniques with 3D measurements.

Main Results:

• Collinear drilling caused cortical breach in 36.2% of models (one bundle) and 90.5% (two bundles).
• The non-collinear drilling technique resulted in zero cortical breaches across all models.
• 3D measurements informed the precise preparation of bony tunnels.

Conclusions:

• The non-collinear drilling technique is a safe and effective method for preparing bony tunnels in CC ligament reconstruction.
• This technique eliminates the risk of cortical breach, improving surgical outcomes.
• 3D virtual drilling enhances the feasibility of anatomical CC ligament reconstruction.