Purpose This anatomical cadaver study was performed to investigate the flat appearance of the midsubstance shape of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and its tibial “C”-shaped insertion site.MethodsThe ACL midsubstance and the tibial ACL insertion were dissected in 20 cadaveric knees (n = 6 fresh frozen and n = 14 paraffined). Magnifying spectacles were used for all dissections. Morphometric measurements were performed using callipers and on digital photographs.ResultsIn all specimens, the midsubstance of the ACL was flat with a mean width of 9.9 mm, thickness of 3.9 mm and cross-sectional area of 38.7 mm2. The “direct” “C”-shaped tibial insertion runs from along the medial tibial spine to the anterior aspect of the lateral meniscus. The mean width (length) of the “C” was 12.6 mm, its thickness 3.3 mm and area 31.4 mm2. The centre of the “C” was the bony insertion of the anterior root of the lateral meniscus overlayed by fat and crossed by the ACL. No posterolateral (PL) inserting ACL fibres were found. Together with the larger “indirect” part (area 79.6 mm2), the “direct” one formed a “duck-foot”-shaped footprint.ConclusionThe tibial ACL midsubstance and tibial “C”-shaped insertion are flat and are resembling a “ribbon”. The centre of the “C” is the bony insertion of the anterior root of the lateral meniscus. There are no central or PL inserting ACL fibres. Anatomical ACL reconstruction may therefore require a flat graft and a “C”-shaped tibial footprint reconstruction with an anteromedial bone tunnel for single bundle and an additional posteromedial bone tunnel for double bundle.

Objective: To describe the morphology of the tibial ACL insertion by histological assessment in the sagittal plane. Methods: For histology the native (undissected) tibial ACL insertion of 6 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees was cut into 4 sagittal sections parallel to the long axis of the medial tibial spine. The slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Safranin O and Russell-Movat pentachrome. All slices were digitalized and analyzed at a magnification of ×20. Results: From medial to lateral the anterior-posterior lengths of the ACL insertion were an average of 10.2, 9.3, 7.6 and 5.8 mm. The anterior margin of the tibial ACL insertion raised from an anterior ridge. The most medial ACL fibers rose along with a peak of the anterior part of the medial tibial spine in which the direct insertion was adjacent to the articular cartilage. Parts of the bony insertions of the anterior and posterior horns of the lateral meniscus were in close contact to the lateral ACL insertion. A small fat pad was located just posterior to the tibial ACL insertion. There were no central or posterolateral inserting ACL fibers in the area intercondylaris anterior. Conclusion:The functional intraligamentous midsubstance ACL fibers arose from the most posterior part of its bony tibial insertion in a flat and "C-shape" way. The anterior border of this functional ACL started from a bony 'anterior ridge' and the medial border was along with a peak of the medial tibial spine.

Patients with PTCL are not equally suited for treatment with UKA like patients with bone on bone. Although PTCL has equal clinical results, it was associated with higher revision rates in our series.

Anatomical footprint restoration requires assessment of the length, width, and the orientation of the tibial ACL insertion site. Both SB- and DB-ACL reconstruction may achieve a wide range of area and geometric restoration of the individual ACL footprint. While SB-ACL reconstruction may be best used for wide insertion sites with up to 16 mm in length, DB-ACL reconstruction has the potential to restore narrow and larger footprints up to 21 mm in length. The "Modified Insertion Site Table" resumes the concept for orientation during surgery