This study was performed to compare the radiographic results of femoral tunnels made through the tibial tunnel and through the anteromedial portal.

From March 1996 to September 1997, fifty-five reconstructions of anterior cruciate ligament were performed. Group I (femoral tunnel through tibial tunnel) was composed of 30 cases and group II (femoral tunnel through anteromedial portal) was consisted 25 cases. On postoperative anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of knees, five angles were measured : APD/LD (angle between longitudinal axis of femoral bone block of patella tendon bone graft and that of interference screw in anteroposterior view/ lateral view), AFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of tibial tunnel in anteroposterior view), APFT/LFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of femoral shaft in anteroposterior view/ lateral view) and the graft tunnel mismatch was evaluated.

Average APD was 1.30±3.13 degree in group I and 0.52±1.85 degree in group II (P>0.05), average LD was 4.97±7.62 degree and 1.48±3.30 degree (P<0,05), average AFT was 12.40±7.29 degree and 19.48±8.49 degree (P<0.05), average APFT was 15.33±6.95 degree and 14.32±7.33 degree (P>0.05), and average LFT was 36.57±5.20 degree and 39.64±6.48 degree (P>0.05), respectively.

We concluded that making a femoral tunnel through the anteromedial portal decreased the divergence between the femoral interference screw and femoral bone block of patella tendon-bone autograft.