Outcomes of Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction Using Adjustable Loop Endobutton and Bioabsorbable Screw for Hamstring Autograft

Objectives: Revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is associated with poorer outcomes and higher rerupture rates when compared to primary ACL reconstruction. There is also a significant heterogeneity in surgical technique, number of stages, and graft options. We report a large single surgeon case series with hamstring autograft as a graft option. Methods: Observational series of revision ACL reconstructions performed by the senior author between 2005 and 2015 was carried out. Chart reviews and clinic follow-ups were performed with the following recorded – re-rupture rate, radiographic grading of osteoarthritis, KT-1000 arthrometer test, IKDC outcome scores and knee range of motion. All patients underwent single bundle four-strand hamstring autograft performed in one stage with use of new tunnels in majority of the cases. Results: 66 patients underwent hamstring autograft one-stage revision ACL reconstruction by Dr Jens Buelow. Chart review was carried out on all patients, and 26 (39%) were followed up in clinic and/or by phone with a mean follow up of 4.7 years. Outcomes included re-rupture rate of 4.5%, reoperation rate of 12%, mean visual analogue scale score of 7.6, mean side-to-side difference of 2.6 mm for KT-1000 arthrometer test, and mean IKDC score of 79. Of the 17 patients with radiographs, 40% had moderate osteoarthritis (grade 2 or 3) at follow-up. Conclusion: Revision ACL reconstruction can result in a satisfactory outcome when performed with a hamstring autograft in one stage.

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Hamstring Autograft in ACL Reconstruction: A 13-Year Predictive Analysis of Anthropometric Factors and Surgeon Trends Relating to Graft Size

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967118779788 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 232596711877978 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Prem N. Ramkumar ◽

Michael D. Hadley ◽

Morgan H. Jones ◽

Lutul D. Farrow

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Graft Failure ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Large Cohort ◽

Predictive Equation ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Graft Size ◽

Patient Demographics ◽

The Mean

Background: Small-diameter autograft hamstring grafts have been linked to graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The frequency of hamstring autografts that actually meet ideal size criteria remains unknown. Purpose: To examine a large cohort of patients to (1) evaluate sizing variability among a large cohort of surgeons and (2) identify patient factors most predictive of hamstring autograft size. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 1681 ACL reconstructions with hamstring autograft were analyzed as completed by 11 surgeons over a 13-year period. Patient demographics (age, height, weight, body mass index, sex) and intraoperative details (including graft diameter and strands) were extracted. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to correlate patient demographics with graft size and to develop a predictive model for hamstring graft size. Results: The mean height and weight of patients included in this study were 172.7 cm and 80.1 kg, respectively; 59% of patients were male. The mean diameters of hamstring autografts were 8.4 mm and 8.2 mm for the tibial and femoral ends of the graft, respectively. A total of 55.1% of grafts were ≤8 mm. Mixed-effects linear modeling revealed that height, weight, sex, and use of ≥5 strands correlated with graft size ( P < .001), while age did not. The predictive multivariate model based on the statistically relevant factors demonstrated a moderate correlation ( r = 0.39, R2 = 0.150), illustrated a predictive equation, and proved height to be the greatest determinant of graft size. Conclusion: Marked variability in graft size distribution was found among surgeons, and more than half of all grafts did not reach the ideal size for hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction. A predictive equation including anthropometric factors may be able to provide the expected graft size. The risk of early graft failure may be mitigated with preoperative consideration of anthropometric factors—most importantly, height—in preparation for possible augmentation, additional strands, or alternative graft sources.

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Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair: Two Year Results of the First In Human Study

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119s00197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3_suppl2) ◽

pp. 2325967119S0019

Author(s):

Martha M. Murray ◽

Leslie Kalish ◽

Braden C. Fleming ◽

Brett Flutie ◽

Laura Thurber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Human Study ◽

Hamstring Tendon ◽

Suture Repair ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Acl Repair ◽

Time Points ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Kt 1000 ◽

Objective Score

Objectives: The Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) procedure is an alternate form of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery that involves suture repair of the ligament combined with a scaffold to bridge the gap between the torn ligament ends. In this paper, we report outcomes of this procedure and a non-randomized concurrent control group receiving ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring tendon autograft. We hypothesized that patients treated with Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair would have physical exam findings, patient reported outcomes and adverse events at one and two years that were similar to patients treated with ACL reconstruction. Methods: This was an observational cohort study. Twenty patients were enrolled. Ten patients received a Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR®) and 10 received a hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction. Outcomes were assessed at time points up to 2 years post-operatively, including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Score, the IKDC Objective score, KT-1000 testing for AP laxity and functional testing. Results: There were no graft or repair failures in the first two years after surgery. The IKDC Subjective Scores in both groups improved significantly from baseline (p< 0.0001) but were similar in BEAR and ACL reconstruction groups at 12 and 24 months. An IKDC Objective score of A (normal) was found in 44% of the patients in the BEAR group and 29% of the patients in the ACL reconstruction group at two years; no patients in either group had a grade of C (abnormal) or D (severely abnormal). KT-1000 testing demonstrated a side to side difference that was similar in the two groups at 2 years (mean(±SD) 1.9(± 2.1) mm in the BEAR group, 3.1(± 2.7) mm in the ACLR group). Functional hop testing results were similar in the two groups at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Hamstring strength indices measured by dynamometer were significantly higher at all time points in the BEAR group than in the hamstring autograft group (mean percentages relative to contralateral side at two years, 98.6%(±10.5%) vs 56.3%(±19.0%), p=0.0001). Conclusion: In a small first-in-human study, Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair produced similar outcomes to ACL reconstruction with autograft quadruple bundle hamstring tendon.

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Vancomycin presoaking of hamstring grafts removes the risk of infection in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967118s00184 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (12_suppl5) ◽

pp. 2325967118S0018

Author(s):

Francisco Figueroa ◽

David Figueroa ◽

Rafael Calvo ◽

Alex Vaisman ◽

Mario López ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Septic Arthritis ◽

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Exact Test ◽

Previous Period ◽

Anterior Cruciate ◽

Primary Acl Reconstruction ◽

Hamstring Grafts

Background: Several strategies have been studied to decrease the rate of infection after hamstring autograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Our group started presoaking grafts with Vancomycin in November 2015 to decrease this risk. Purpose: The objective of the study is to compare the success of this protocol against the immediate previous period in which we did not use the protocol. Study design: Retrospective cohort. Level III. Methods: Consecutive periods were studied: April 2013-October 2015 (pre Vancomycin protocol) and November 2015- May 2018 (Vancomycin protocol). All patients that underwent a hamstring autograft primary ACL reconstruction during the periods studied were included. The final outcome was the presence of postoperative septic arthritis in both groups. Diagnosis of septic arthritis was made using the clinical picture plus cytological analysis of a joint aspiration (cell count > 50.000/uL + > 90% neutrophils) Statistical analysis was made using the Fisher’s exact test. Significance was set in p < 0.05. Results: 490 patients were included in the study, 230 in the pre Vancomycin protocol an 260 in the Vancomycin protocol. 4 postoperative septic arthritis were noted in the pre Vancomycin protocol (1.7%) while no septic arthritis was noted in the post Vancomycin protocol patients during the period studied. (p < 0.05) The 4 postoperative infections were presented at an average 21.7 days (range 16-25). Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated in 2 of the cases, and in the other 2 no organism was isolated. Conclusion: Vancomycin presoaking of hamstring autografts in primary ACL reconstruction eliminated the risk of postoperative septic arthritis during the studied period compared to the immediate previous period, where no Vancomycin presoaking was used.

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ACL Graft Signal Characteristics Measured by Quantitative MRI Are Significantly Correlated with Patient Reported Outcomes Two-Years after Hamstring Autograft ACL Reconstruction

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119s00352 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽

pp. 2325967119S0035

Author(s):

Drew A. Lansdown ◽

Weiyuan Xiao ◽

Alan L. Zhang ◽

Christina R. Allen ◽

Brian T. Feeley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Quantitative Imaging ◽

Relaxation Times ◽

Tendon Graft ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Acl Graft ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Proteoglycan Content ◽

Over Time

Objectives: Following surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the tendon graft undergoes a remodeling process of ligamentization. Collagen within the ACL graft becomes organized along the long-axis of the ligament and the proteoglycan content increases. Quantitative imaging sequences, specifically T2 and T1rho, allow for a non-invasive assessment of collagen orientation and proteoglycan content, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal progression of T2 and T1rho relaxation times of the graft after ACL reconstruction and the relationship between these quantitative imaging markers and patient-reported outcome measures. We hypothesized that T2 and T1rho would decrease significantly over time, reflecting improved collagen organization and ncreased proteoglycan content, and that T2 and T1rho relaxation times would be inversely correlated with Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS). Methods: Thirty-two patients (mean age 29.4±8.2 years, 12 females) were followed prospectively after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft. Patients provided informed consent and all procedures were IRB-approved. Exclusion criteria included allograft reconstruction, other ligamentous injury, meniscal tear requiring repair, prior knee surgery, or history of arthritis. Post-operative MR imaging was obtained for 31 patients at 6 months, 30 patients at 12 months, 26 patients at 24 months, and 23 patients at 36 months after surgery. T2 and T1rho relaxation times were simultaneously acquired with a combined 3D sagittal sequence using a 3 T MR system (GE Healthcare) with a 1Tx/8Rx knee coil. The intra-articular ACL graft was identified on a fat-suppressed sagittal high-resolution 3D fast spin echo images and manually segmented. The T2 and T1rho relaxation times for the graft were recorded. Patients completed the KOOS at each imaging time point. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests with Tukey corrections were used to compare T2 and T1rho relaxation times between time points. The relationship between KOOS and T2 and T1rho values at 2 years post-operative was investigated with Spearman’s rank correlation. Significance was defined as p<0.05. Results: The T2 relaxation times of the ACL graft were significantly higher at 6 months relative to 12 months (p<0.001), 24 months (p<0.001,) and 36 months (p<0.001) after ACL reconstruction, as well as significantly higher at 12 months relative to 36 months (p<0.001) (Figure 1A). The T1rho relaxation times of the ACL graft were significantly higher at 6 months relative to 12 months (p<0.001), 24 months (p<0.001), and 36 months (p<0.001) (Figure 1B). The two-year T2 relaxation times and T1rho relaxation times were significantly correlated with the KOOS Sports, Pain, Symptoms, and Activities of Daily Living sub-scores. Conclusion: We observed significant changes in the tendon graft over time following ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft, reflecting a higher concentration of proteoglycan and more longitudinally-organized collagen structure over time. Improved collagen organization (lower T2 values) and increased proteoglycan content (lower T1rho values) were correlated with better outcomes based on KOOS scores. Quantitative T2 and T1rho relaxation times of ACL graft may offer a non-invasive method for monitoring graft maturation that correlates with patient-reported knee function after ACL reconstruction. [Figure: see text][Table: see text]

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Hamstring Autograft versus Patellar Tendon Autograft for ACL Reconstruction: Is There a Difference in Graft Failure Rate? A Meta-analysis of 47,613 Patients

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ◽

10.1007/s11999-017-5278-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 475 (10) ◽

pp. 2459-2468 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Brian T. Samuelsen ◽

Kate E. Webster ◽

Nick R. Johnson ◽

Timothy E. Hewett ◽

Aaron J. Krych

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Patellar Tendon ◽

Failure Rate ◽

Graft Failure ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Patellar Tendon Autograft ◽

Tendon Autograft

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Allograft Augmentation of Hamstring Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts is Associated with Increased Graft Failure

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967118s00140 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (7_suppl4) ◽

pp. 2325967118S0014

Author(s):

Crystal Perkins ◽

Michael T. Busch ◽

Melissa A. Christino ◽

S. Clifton Willimon

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Graft Failure ◽

Activity Level ◽

Population Characteristics ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Graft Rupture ◽

Graft Diameter

Objectives: ACL reconstruction in adolescents is commonly performed with hamstring autografts. In the adolescent population with very high activity levels, graft rupture is the most feared complication of ACL reconstruction. Young age, higher activity level, allografts, and small graft diameter have been shown to be predictors of graft failure. The applicability of this data to pediatric ACL reconstructions is limited due to heterogeneity of ages, graft constructs, and tunnel techniques. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of soft tissue graft constructs and graft rupture following pediatric transphyseal ACL reconstruction. Our hypothesis is that allograft-augmentation of grafts is associated with an increased risk of graft rupture. Methods: A single-institution retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients. Inclusion criteria were age less than 20 years and transphyseal ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft, with or without allograft augmentation. Graft constructs included 4-strand doubled semitendinosus and gracilis (4-STG), 5-strand tripled semitendinosus and doubled gracilis (5-STG), 6-strand doubled gracilis and semitendinosus plus allograft (6-STGAllo), and 7-strand tripled semitendinosus and doubled gracilis plus allograft (7-STGAllo). Exclusion criteria included multiligament reconstruction and less than 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome was graft rupture. Results: Three hundred fifty-five patients (157 males, 198 females) with an average age of 15.3 years were identified to meet inclusion criteria. Graft constructs included 4-STG (198), 5-STG (91), 6-STGAllo (65), and 7-STGAllo (1). Average graft diameter was 8.3 mm 4-STG, 8.9 mm 5-STG, and 9.2 mm 6-STGAllo. Age and graft sizes were significantly different across groups with older patients (p <0.001) and larger graft sizes (p <0.001) being found in patients with allograft-augmented grafts. Mean duration of follow-up was 26 months (range 6-56 months). There were 51 graft ruptures (14.3%). The failure rate of each construct was 13.6% 4-STG, 11.9% 5-STG, and 19.7% 6-STGAllo. Time to graft failure was 16 months (range 2-40 months), with 49% of failures occurring before 12 months and 24% after 24 months. Twenty-four patients (6.7%) had a contralateral ACL tear during the follow-up period. Table 1 provides population characteristics by graft rupture status. This data suggests that patients who sustain a graft rupture may be slightly younger (p=0.07) and have lower BMI (p=0.07) than those patients without graft rupture. Odds ratios for graft failure by graft construct, controlling for age and graft size were calculated. Patients with 6-STGAllo grafts had an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.02, 6.50) of graft rupture as compared to 4-STG. Conclusion: ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft combined with soft tissue allograft have a 2.6 times risk of graft rupture as compared to hamstring autograft without augmentation. In situations where the surgeon harvests an inadequately sized 4-strand autograft, we recommend tripling the semitendinosus to produce a larger graft diameter rather than augment with an allograft.

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Limitations in predicting outcome following primary ACL reconstruction with single-bundle hamstring autograft — A systematic review

The Knee ◽

10.1016/j.knee.2016.10.006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 170-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Vincent VG An ◽

Corey Scholes ◽

Vikram A Mhaskar ◽

William J Hadden ◽

David Parker

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Single Bundle ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Predicting Outcome ◽

Primary Acl Reconstruction

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ACL Reconstruction In High School and College-aged Athletes: Does Autograft Choice Affect Recurrent ACL Revision Rates?

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119s00282 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽

pp. 2325967119S0028

Author(s):

Christopher C. Kaeding ◽

Kurt P. Spindler ◽

Laura J. Huston ◽

Alex Zajichek ◽

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Graft Failure ◽

Knee Laxity ◽

Hamstring Graft ◽

Hamstring Autograft ◽

Acl Graft ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Competition Level ◽

Risk Patients

Objectives: Physicians’ and patients’ decision-making process between bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) versus hamstring autografts for ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may be influenced by a patient’s gender, laxity level, sport played, and/or competition level in the young, active athlete. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of subsequent ligament disruption for high school and college-aged athletes between autograft BTB versus hamstring grafts for ACLRs. Our hypothesis is there would be no recurrent ligament failure differences between autograft types at 6-year follow-up. Methods: Our inclusion criteria were patients aged 14-22 who were injured in sport (basketball, football, soccer, other), had a contralateral normal knee, and were due to have a unilateral primary ACLR with either a BTB or hamstring autograft. All patients were prospectively followed at two and six years and contacted by phone and/or email to determine whether any subsequent surgery had occurred to either knee since their initial ACLR. If so, operative reports were obtained, whenever possible, in order to document pathology and treatment. Multivariable regression modeling controlled for age, gender, ethnicity/race, body mass index, sport and competition level, activity level, knee laxity, and graft type. The six-year outcomes of interest were the incidence of subsequent ACL reconstruction to either knee. Results: Eight hundred thirty-nine (839) patients were eligible, of which 770 (92%) had 6-year follow-up for subsequent surgery outcomes. The median age was 17, with 48% females, and the distribution of BTB to hamstring was 492 (64%) and 278 (36%) respectively. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the cohort was classified as having “high grade” knee laxity preoperatively. The overall ACL revision rate was 9.2% in the ipsilateral knee, 11.2% in the contralateral normal ACL, and 19.7% had one or the other within 6 years of the index ACLR surgery. High-grade laxity (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4, 3.9; p=0.001), autograft type (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.5; p=0.004), and age (OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7, 0.96; p=0.009) were the 3 most influential predictors of a recurrent ACL graft revision on the ipsilateral knee, respectively, whereas the sport of the index injury (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.7; p=0.002) was the most influential predictor of a subsequent primary ACL reconstruction on the contralateral knee. The odds of a recurrent ACL graft revision on the ipsilateral knee for patients receiving a hamstring autograft were 2.1 times the odds of a patient receiving a BTB autograft (95% CI: 1.3, 3.5). For low-risk patients (5% incidence of graft failure), a hamstring graft can increase the risk of recurrent ACL graft revision by 5 percentage points, from 5% to 10%. For high-risk patients (35% incidence of graft failure), a hamstring graft can increase the risk of recurrent ACL graft revision by 15 percentage points, from 35% to ˜ 50%. An individual prediction risk calculator for a subsequent ACL graft revision can be determined by the nomogram in Figure 1. Conclusion: There is a high rate of subsequent ACL tears in both the ipsilateral and contralateral knees in this young athletic cohort, with evidence suggesting that incidence of ACL graft revisions at 6 years following index surgery is significantly higher in hamstring autograft compared to BTB autograft. [Figure: see text]

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