Posterolateral corner reconstruction for posterolateral rotatory instability combined with posterior cruciate ligament injuries: comparison between fibular tunnel and tibial tunnel techniques

The aim of this study was to compare the results of two different methods of posterolateral corner reconstruction (fibular head tunnel versus tibial tunnel), performed at the same time as a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Between January 1999 and October 2003, 47 patients underwent tensioning of a remnant posterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral bundle reconstruction along with a posterolateral corner reconstruction using a fibular head bone or tibial bone tunnel. Thirty-nine patients determined to be eligible were enrolled in this retrospective study after a minimum follow-up duration of 2 years. The average duration of follow-up was 35.3 months (range 24–70 months). Satisfactory results were achieved in 32 patients (82%) according to the International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC) scores, and 29 patients (74%) had restored external rotational stability. The fibular head tunnel was superior to the tibial tunnel method in terms of operation time (43.0 ± 15.7 vs. 66.6 ± 9.4 min, respectively, P