RADIOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION OF PATELLAR TENDON GRAFTS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT

The new biodegradable interference screws offer very many advantages f or anterior cruciate ligament replacement with patellar tendon. Howeve r, their radiolucency makes it impossible to identify the anchorage si tes. We describe an imaging technique of the plasty and its anchorage sites by means of a radiopaque contrast that is commonly used in radio logy (Iopamidol; Bracco, Milan, Italy). It is an easy technique that d oes not extend the time of surgery, it is harmless, and allows us to i dentify malpositioning or impingement of the plasty.