| abstract |
A surgical method for arthroscopic repair or replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the method generally includes forming osseous tunnels in the tibia and femur, opening into the intercondylar region. A patellar tendon graft is harvested from the knee, having bone plugs naturally attached to each end. The graft is secured in the osseous tunnels by an interference fit with a bone screw inserted between the tunnel walls and the bone plugs. Specialized instrumentation for performing the method steps is also disclosed. Such instrumentation includes: a combination drill for cutting an osseous tunnel and harvesting a bone core, an intercondylar guide for locating a pilot hole on the femoral condyle, single-fluted and multi-fluted hand and power reamers for forming an osseous tunnel, and a work station for facilitating preparatory steps performed on graft material. |