Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39894764›Full record

ReviewOrthopaedic surgery2025

Over-The-Top Technique for ACL Reconstruction: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Postoperative Complications.

Haocheng Du, Lin Li, Ziwen Qin, Jiang Guo, Xintao Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Orthopaedic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. A novel CT soft tissue window-based visual scoring system for rapid assessment of bone density.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Clinical efficacy and safety of robot-assisted targeted co-ablation combined with vertebroplasty under local anesthesia for spinal metastases.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  6. [Chinese expert consensus on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the over-the-top technique (2025 edition)].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026
    Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Haocheng DuDepartment of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8137-1736
Lin LiDepartment of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Ziwen QinDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Jiang GuoDepartment of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Xintao ZhangDepartment of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272568the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen SZSM202211019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are the most common knee joint injuries related to sports activities in clinical practice. For treating ACL injuries, anatomical reconstruction surgery is often the preferred method. The over-the-top (OTT) technique is a surgical approach that eliminates the need for creating a femoral tunnel. According to the existing literature, the OTT technique offers distinct advantages, particularly for skeletally immature individuals and in revision cases. Currently, femoral tunnel failure is the most common cause of ACL reconstruction failure, which can lead to less than optimal postoperative performance of the ACL and a higher likelihood of needing a revision. Additionally, mistakes in the placement of the femoral tunnel and the subsequent risk of tunnel enlargement can increase the complexity of revision procedures, ultimately reducing the long-term clinical effectiveness for patients. In contrast, the OTT technique has shown excellent biomechanical performance, avoids the need for bone tunnels, is economically practical, and has been proven to provide satisfactory therapeutic outcomes both in the short and long term, especially for skeletally immature individuals and in revision cases. The OTT technique is deemed a safe and effective surgical method for treating ACL injuries. In summary, the OTT technique has unique benefits for skeletally immature individuals and in revision cases, making it a viable option worth considering. Level of evidence V.

Indexed as

Anterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAnterior Cruciate Ligament ReconstructionPostoperative ComplicationsFemurHumansReoperationadvantagesanterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)complicationdisadvantagesover‐the‐top (OTT)

Identifiers

PMID39894764
PMCPMC11787975

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.