The first M-ARS ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction surgery was performed on February 9, 2021, by Akbar Nawab, MD, from Ellis and Badenhausen Orthopaedics in Louisville, KY, USA.
M-ARS incorporates the use of a Quadriceps Tendon or a flat Hamstring graft with the subsequent graft tunnels to mimic the rectangular-shaped origin of the ACL on the femur and the C-Shaped insertion on the tibia. The M-ARS technique has the potential to provide patients with a more anatomic ACL reconstruction, potentially leading to improved function post-surgery.
Following the surgery, Dr. Nawab said: “The procedure went extremely well. This unique approach to graft preparation, as well as femoral and tibial ACL footprint drilling, allows the surgeon to perform a true anatomic reconstruction. The thoughtful and unique instrumentation from Medacta no longer restricts the surgeon to circular tunnels. Surgeons do not have to make the anatomy fit the instruments. The true anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament, as demonstrated by Drs. Smigielski, Siebold, Fink and Herbort can be respected and, for the first time, accurately reproduced. This is a great step in advancing ACL surgery. I am looking forward to utilizing M-ARS surgical technique more often in the future.”
The actual trend in ACL reconstruction is to be more anatomic respecting ACL bone insertion and kinematics of the native ACL. M-ARS ACL is an original concept to successfully mimic the native anatomical ACL. The ribbon-like structure of the graft does reproduce the anatomy and can reproduce the kinematics of the two bundles of the native ACL.
