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✅ Knee MRI Mastery/Chap 2.ACL and PCL

(Fig 2-E.32) Graft Tear In PCL Reconstruction: killer turn of the tibial tunnel opening.

by MSK MRI 2024. 4. 29.

https://youtu.be/Cd99fDQ6qSA

https://youtu.be/UgiSgNcqguA

1️⃣ Understanding the "Killer Turn" in PCL Reconstruction

  • The term "killer turn" in posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) surgery describes the sharp, stressful bend that the PCL graft undergoes at the tibial tunnel aperture. This is not a smooth curve but an abrupt angle that can lead to increased graft tension, abrasion, and eventual failure.
  •  Such acute angles are a major contributor to residual knee laxity after reconstruction due to the biomechanical forces exerted on the graft.

2️⃣ MRI Indications of the "Killer Turn"

  • On MRI, a thickened graft with high signal intensity at the "killer turn" often indicates impingement and damage, suggesting that the graft is undergoing significant stress and wear at this critical juncture.

3️⃣ Surgical Approaches to Mitigate Risks

  • To address the challenges posed by the "killer turn," surgical techniques focus on minimizing the sharpness of the graft's bend. 
  • This involves anatomical tunnel positioning and exploring alternative fixation methods that can enhance the graft's long-term stability and functionality.

 

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 22 (2014) 557–580

Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2016 Jan 21;3:13-18

 

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