Hamstring autograft and anatomical footprint evaluation for anterior talofibular ligament reconstruction: Cadaveric study

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether or not there was any incompatibility between two-strand hamstring tendons taken from the same knee and the ATFL and it was the determination of suitable footprint points in the fibula and talus for anatomical ATFL reconstruction. Methods: 16 fresh frozen cadaver specimens were dissected to gracilis and semitendinosus tendons and the anterior talofibular ligament. The origins, insertions, distances from osseous landmarks of fibular talus of ATFL were determined. The diameters of gracilis, semitendinosus and ATFL were calculated. There was a moderate correlation between body height and the distance between the distal of inferior lateral malleolus and the fibular adhesion site of ATFL (r: 36.5 p: 0.036). There was a weak correlation between body height and the distance between the apex of the lateral talar process and the talus adhesion site of ATFL in a single bundle (r: 28.4 p: 0.002). There was no correlation between the distance from proximal and distal adhesion side of ATFL and body height in the double bundle (p: 0.241). Results: There was no significant relationship between ATFL diameter and gracilis, semitendinosus and both hamstring in women. A significant relationship at 80.5% was determined between the ATFL and the gracilis diameter in man. A significant relationship at 92.6% was determined between the ATFL and the semitendinosus diameter in man. Conclusion: It was determined that there is not compatibility between the gracilis tendons, the semitendinosus tendon and ATFL in women. It should be supported by biomechanical and clinical studies whether this incompatibility has a clinical effect or not.