Does the patellar tendon normalize after harvesting its central third?: a prospective long-term MRI study.
BACKGROUND
The central third of the patellar tendon is the most frequently used autograft for ACL reconstruction.


OBJECTIVE
The patellar tendon at the donor site would look normal as seen on MRI 6 years after harvesting its central third.


METHODS
Nineteen consecutive patients were included in the study. MRI examinations of the donor site were performed at 6 (5 to 10) weeks, 6 (6 to 8) months, 27 (24 to 29) months, and 71 (68 to 73) months postoperatively. The contralateral normal side was examined only on the first occasion.


RESULTS
The size of the donor-site gap decreased significantly (P = 0.0001) between 6 weeks and 6 years. In most patients, a thinning of the central part of the patellar tendon was still found at 6 years. The thickness of the peripheral patellar tendon was increased, compared with the contralateral healthy side, until 2 years (P = 0.003). On all occasions, the width was increased compared with the contralateral side (P < 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Prospective MRI examinations revealed that the patellar tendon at the donor site had not normalized 6 years after harvesting its central third. The reharvesting of the patellar tendon can therefore not be recommended.
Svensson
Michael
M
Department of Orthopaedics, Norra Alvsborg County Hospital, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Trollhättan and Göteborg, Sweden.
Kartus
Jüri
J
Ejerhed
Lars
L
Lindahl
Sven
S
Karlsson
Jon
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome