ACL reconstruction by patellar tendon. A comparison of length by magnetic resonance imaging

In 50 knees the length of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the patellar tendon, and the distance between the tibial tuberosity and the femoral origin of the ACL were evaluated by means of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which permits subsequent reconstruction of any sectional view. The measurements showed that the patellar tendon was always markedly longer than the ACL (mean 14.4 mm), but always shorter than the distance between the tibial tuberosity and the femoral insertion of the ACL (mean 19.2 mm). The mean lengths of the ACL and the patellar tendon were 38.2 mm and 52.6 mm, respectively. The mean distance between the femoral ACL origin and the tibial insertion of the patellar tendon was 71.8 mm. These results demonstrate that a distally based patellar tendon autograft alone (with the patellar bone block but without extension into the periosteum of the patella or the quadriceps tendon) cannot be placed anatomically correctly to the isometric femoral insertion of the ACL. When the patellar tendon is used for ACL reconstruction, it must be implanted as a free autograft. Nevertheless, considerable variations of length must be taken into account.