Post-operative analysis of ACL tibial fixation

The main aims of the study were to describe the mechanical behaviour of the bone and tendon graft in ACL reconstruction. We also wanted to evaluate the stresses upon the tendon and try to relate these to modes of healing observed in animal studies. An MRI scan of a knee from a 22-year-old male patient, 3 months post ACL reconstruction, was used to generate a finite element model for assessing the stresses on the tendon and bone. A 200 N force, equivalent to the force during normal gait, was placed on the graft and the stress distribution recorded. The maximum stress was found on the tendon graft at the proximal end of the tibial tunnel. Direct tendon healing, which has been observed in animal studies, maybe as a result of the increased stress in this area.