Background: Little information is available regarding parameters that would enable a surgeon to predict the size and length of 4-stranded semitendinosus (ST) and 4-stranded gracilis tendon (GT) grafts.
Purpose: To evaluate whether certain preoperative anthropometric data enable prediction of the size of 4-stranded ST and GT autograft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Study Design: Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.
Methods: This study involved 235 Chinese Han patients who underwent double-bundle ACL reconstruction with 4-stranded autogenous ST and GT grafts. Preoperatively, the authors recorded height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, age, and sports activity. During surgery, the usable length of the ST and GT and the diameter of the 4-stranded grafts made of ST and GT were measured. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine relationships between anthropometric measurements and the length and diameter of intraoperatively measured ST and GT grafts.
Results: Strongest correlations for ST and GT length and GT graft diameter were height and weight. The strongest correlations for ST graft diameter were gender and weight. Body mass index had only moderate correlations with ST and GT graft size. Self-reported activity level was not correlated. Women had significantly smaller GT and ST graft diameters and shorter tendon lengths than did men. Semitendinosus graft size was significantly larger and longer than was the GT graft (7.4 ± 0.7 mm vs 5.9 ± 0.6 mm and 279.9 ± 20.8 mm vs 251.5 ± 20.8 mm, respectively). Simple regression analysis demonstrated that height, weight, and BMI can be used to predict ST and GT autograft length and diameter.
Conclusion: Several preoperative anthropometric measurements showed correlation with the length of the ST and GT and diameter of 4-stranded ST and GT grafts. The current data may provide surgeons with important preoperative information about size of ST and GT grafts and would be useful for patient counseling and alternative graft source planning.
The anterior cruciate ligament has been and is of great interest to scientists and orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was initially performed using an open approach. When the approach changed from open to arthroscopic reconstruction, a 2- and, later, 1-incision technique was applied. With time, researchers found that traditional arthroscopic single-bundle reconstruction did not fully restore rotational stability of the knee joint and a more anatomic approach to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament has been proposed. Anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction intends to replicate normal anatomy, restore normal kinematics, and protect long-term knee health. Although double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been shown to result in better rotational stability in both biomechanical and clinical studies, it is vital to differentiate between anatomic and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The latter is merely a step closer to reproducing the native anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament; however, it can still be done nonanatomically. To evaluate the potential benefits of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament in an anatomic fashion, accurate, precise, and reliable outcome measures are needed. These include, for example, T2 magnetic resonance imaging mapping of cartilage and quantification of graft healing on magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, there is a need for a consensus on which patient-reported outcome measures should be used to facilitate homogeneous reporting of outcomes.
Background: Although previous studies suggested that female patients are predisposed to increase graft laxity compared with male patients after single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons, there have been no studies specifically examining gender-based differences in outcome after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts.
Hypotheses: (1) Female patients have significantly smaller hamstring graft diameters than do men for anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery; (2) female patients will have increased graft laxity compared with male patients after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons.
Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.
Methods: The consecutive 174 patients who underwent anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons were enrolled. Of these patients, 49 women and 73 men were prospectively evaluated 2 years after surgery.
Results: The diameters for anteromedial and posterolateral grafts in the female group were significantly smaller than those in the male group. On Lachman testing, 98% of the female group and 97% of the male group were rated as negative. Regarding the pivot-shift test, 80% of the female group and 85% of the male group were rated as negative. No significant differences were found between the female and male groups in these tests. The average side-to-side differences in the KT-2000 knee ligament arthrometer values were 1.3 mm in the female group and 1.4 mm in the male group; this difference between females and males was not statistically significant. The average Lysholm scores were 96.7 points in the female group and 97.2 points in the male group. Thirty-five cases (73%) in the female group and 54 cases (74%) in the male group were graded as normal on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation. There were no significant differences in Lysholm score or IKDC evaluation between the female and male groups.
Conclusion: The results of assessment for ligament laxity at the 2-year postoperative evaluation in the female group were approximately identical to those of the male group after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons. Therefore, the present study suggests that anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons provides satisfactory knee stability to female patients as well as male patients.
Background: Conventional anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques have focused on restoration of the anteromedial bundle only, which, however, may be insufficient in restoring the rotational stability of the knee.
Hypothesis: Rotational stability of the knee is better when using a double-bundle technique instead of a single-bundle technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.
Methods: Seventy-seven patients were randomized into 3 different groups for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendons: double-bundle with bioabsorbable screw fixation (n = 25), single-bundle with bioabsorbable screw fixation (n = 27), and single-bundle with metallic screw fixation (n = 25). The evaluation methods were clinical examination, KT-1000 arthrometric measurement, and the International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm knee scores.
Results: There were no differences between the study groups preoperatively. Seventy-three patients (95%) were available at a minimum 2-year follow-up (range, 24–35 mo). The rotational stability of the knee, as evaluated by the pivot-shift test, was the best in the patients in the double-bundle group. In addition, the patients in the single-bundle groups had more graft failures than those in the double-bundle group. Concerning the anterior stability of the knee as measured with the KT-1000 arthrometer, the group differences were not statistically significant. No significant differences were found between the groups in knee scores.
Conclusion: Rotational stability of the knee is better when using the double-bundle technique instead of the single-bundle technique in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Background: During the past decade, the use of biodegradable implants in anterior cruciate ligament surgery has increased.
Hypothesis: Poly-L-lactide acid (PLLA) interference screws would render the same clinical results but greater tunnel enlargement than metal screws 8 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon (semitendinosus/gracilis) autografts.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
Methods: A randomized series of 77 patients, all with a unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture, were divided into 2 groups (PLLA and metal). In both groups, hamstring tendon autografts were used with interference screw fixation at both ends and the patients were examined with standard radiographs, Tegner activity level, Lysholm knee score, single-legged hop test, early C-reactive protein response, and KT-1000 arthrometer knee laxity measurements.
Results: The preoperative assessments in both groups were similar in terms of gender, clinical tests, and the time from injury to surgery. The patients returned for a radiographic and clinical examination a mean of 96 months (range, 78-120 months) after the index operation. The PLLA group displayed significantly larger bone tunnels on the radiographs than the metal group on the femoral side (mean, 11.4 mm [range, 0-17.8 mm] vs 8.0 mm [range, 0-16.3 mm]; P < .005) but not on the tibial side (mean, 10.7 mm [range, 7.8-14.1 mm] vs 10.5 mm [range, 0-20.3 mm]; difference not significant). At follow-up, no significant differences were found between the PLLA and metal groups in terms of knee laxity measurements (median, 1.0 mm [range, –2.0-4.0 mm] vs 1.0 mm [range, –3.0-6.5 mm]), Tegner activity level (median, 7 [range,3-9] vs 6 [range, 2-9]), or the Lysholm knee score (median, 90 points [range, 51-100] vs 89 points [range, 53-100]). The C-reactive protein values did not differ significantly between the 2 groups except for an increase in the PLLA group compared with the metal group at day 1 postoperatively—23 mg/L (range, <6-55) vs 9 mg/L (range, <6-55) (P < .001).
Conclusion: There were significantly larger radiographically visible bone tunnels on the femoral side but not on the tibial side in the PLLA group compared with the metal group 8 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon autografts. This finding did not correlate with inferior clinical results. Because of the results in the present study, the authors have discontinued the use of PLLA interference screws.
