Clinical, functional, and isokinetic study of a prospective series of anterior cruciate ligament ligamentoplasty with pedicular hamstrings

Outcomes of hamstring graft with preserved tibial insertion for ACL reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Evaluate the outcomes of ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction techniques that use a hamstring graft with a preserved tibial insertion and compare them to standard techniques.

METHODS

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was done of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Ovid databases to identify published clinical studies on ACL reconstruction in which a non-detached hamstring tendon (NDHT) was used as a graft and to compare them to studies in which a detached hamstring tendon (DHT) or other techniques were used. The eligible studies were analyzed for the knee laxity, Lachman test, pivot shift test, joint range of motion, anterior drawer, pain, re-tear, revision surgery, Lysholm score, Tegner score, ACL-RSI scale, KOOS, IKDC, SNQ and Howell scale.

RESULTS

Twelve articles in which NDHT was used for ACL reconstruction were analyzed. There was no significant difference between NDHT and DHT in the Lachman > 1 (p = .07), pivot shift test > 1 (p = .40), re-tears (p = .62), pain (p = .85) and the Tegner score (p = .95). However, the outcomes were somewhat better with the NDHT technique for the Lachman (RR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.08-1.12), pivot shift test (RR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.10-2.49) and re-tears (RR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.13-3.42). The other criteria were not included in the meta-analysis because of lack of data or because specific outcome scores were used in each article.

CONCLUSION

NDHT techniques provide similar results to DHT for ACL reconstruction and tend to produce better stability and a lower re-tear rate.

Preserving the hamstring tendon insertion during ACL reconstruction with an autograft: Systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION

The hamstring tendons (gracilis and semitendinosus) are often used as an autograft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Healing of this graft involves a slow biological process called ligamentization. To encourage this process, some authors have proposed preserving the insertion of the hamstring tendons.

HYPOTHESIS

Leaving the tibial insertion of the hamstring tendons intact will provide better early biological incorporation and superior tibial mechanical fixation resulting in various clinical advantages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In January 2022, a systematic literature review was carried out independently by two authors of the Medline, PubMed and Embase databases. The keywords used were "pedicular" or "pedicled" or "preservation of tibial attachment" or "hamstring tibial insertion" AND "ACL reconstruction". Each author's data was analyzed separately.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles were analyzed. Preserving the hamstring tibial insertion during ACL reconstruction improves the graft's biological incorporation during the initial postoperative phase according to clinical studies with MRI analysis and provides a mechanical advantage at the graft's tibial attachment according to biomechanical studies (construct up to 65% stiffer). There was no difference in the clinical and functional scores when compared to the conventional technique in which the hamstring tendons are detached from their tibial insertion.

DISCUSSION

The main conclusion of this systematic literature review was that preserving the hamstring tibial insertion during ACL reconstruction appears to improve the graft's ligamentization with biological and mechanical advantages relative to detaching the hamstring tendons. The clinical and functional results were comparable to other techniques. Prospective studies with large cohorts are still needed to confirm these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV; Systematic review of literature.

Combined All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Semitendinosus Plus Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction With Intact Gracilis Tibial Insertion and Transtibial Passage

The indications for combining anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with anterolateral ligament reconstruction have increased considerably in recent years since several anatomical, clinical, and biomechanical studies have proven the importance of the anterolateral periphery in knee rotational stability. Much is still being discussed on how to combine these techniques in terms of which grafts and fixation options to use, as well as avoiding tunnel convergence. This study aims to describe anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a triple-bundle semitendinosus tendon graft all-inside technique combined with an anterolateral ligament reconstruction maintaining the gracilis tendon insertion on the tibia, using independent anatomical tunnels. With this, we were able to reconstruct both using only hamstring autografts, reducing morbidity in other possible donor areas, in addition to allowing stable fixation of both grafts without tunnel convergence.

Surgical technique of anterior cruciate ligament ligamentoplasty with pedicular hamstrings via an inside-out approach: BIOFAST hamstring tendons graft

This surgical technique of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction uses a 4-stranded hamstring tendons graft (HG), via an inside-out approach with a femoral cortical button and a tibial screw. It offers preservation of the tibial attachment of the hamstrings and enables double tibial fixation: biological and mechanical. This technique, "BIOFAST HG", does not require any calculation of the length of the tunnels, nor the use of different sized, or adjustable, buttons. If the sliding in the femoral tunnel fails, it is possible to easily convert to a so-called "classic technique". The first 60 cases were reviewed with a conversion rate of 3%. This technique allows the benefits of a pedicled graft over the classic HG technique in a simple way, with minimal conversions to the classic technique.