Risk Factors for Femoral Cortical Button Malposition in Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Femoral cortical button suspension fixation is a popular and reliable technique for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR). Button malposition during graft fixation can lead to postoperative graft loosening.

To determine the risk factors of femoral cortical button malposition in PCLR when neither direct visualization nor intraoperative fluoroscopy is used.

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Of the 206 consecutive patients who underwent PCLR without direct visualization or intraoperative radiographs in 2019 at a single institution, 182 met the selection criteria and were included in the study. The distance from the suspension button to the femoral cortex was measured on postoperative computed tomography scans. The button was considered malpositioned if its distance to the femoral cortex was ≥2 mm. We evaluated patient-related and surgery-related variables, including age, sex, concomitant ligament reconstruction, button type, and surgeon experience. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for button malposition.

The overall prevalence of button malposition was approximately 17.0% (31/182), and the mean distance from the button to the femoral cortex was 6.11 ± 5.82 mm in the malposition group. Male sex was the most significant risk factor for button malposition (odds ratio [OR], 13.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73-111.17; P = .013). Other independent risk factors were low surgical volume (completing ≤3 procedures; OR, 6.41; 95% CI, 1.89-21.72; P = .003), concomitant ligament reconstruction (OR, 5.56; 95% CI, 2.12-14.58; P < .001), and fixed-loop button (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 1.11-14.18; P = .034).

Male sex, low surgical volume, concomitant ligament reconstruction, and fixed-loop button were independent risk factors for femoral cortical button malposition during PCLR.