Novice Surgeon Portal Preference to Visualize the Femoral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Footprint: The Accessory Medial Portal Offers Improved Visualization

PURPOSE: To evaluate participant opinions on the appropriateness of different viewing angles by asking 8 questions, using visual content techniques. METHODS: Survey information from participants was used in this study. We used images of a patient who was operated on for symptomatic knee instability. Participants were asked whether the visual angle could determine the femoral tunnel entry point or evaluate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) integrity. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 40 participants. When all responses were evaluated, participant opinions on the accessory medial portal (AMP) were more positive than opinions on images taken from the anterolateral portal (ALP). These observations were statistically significant (P < .005). Both ACL integrity assessments and femoral tunnel entry site questions were evaluated, we observed that participant opinions on the AMP for both types of evaluation were more positive than opinions on the ALP. This observation was statistically significant (P < .005). When evaluations with photos and video transcripts were compared, no significant differences in terms of participant opinions were observed (P < .005). CONCLUSIONS: AMP use may be a valuable tool for assistant and postgraduate education, as it offers a more suitable view angle for ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, survey study.