title: The effect of length on the structural properties of an Achilles tendon graft as used in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are varied. No previous studies have investigated the effect of graft length on the structural properties of the graft.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Graft length significantly affects the structural properties of posterior cruciate ligament grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight Achilles tendon grafts were tested under tensile loads up to 400 N at 3 different lengths: long (75 mm), medium (48 mm), and short (34 mm). These 3 lengths represent midtunnel fixation, inlay fixation, and fixation near the ligament insertions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shortening the graft from both long to medium and from medium to short increased the stiffness by approximately 25%. Long and medium grafts displaced significantly more than medium and short grafts, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effective length of a graft, which is determined by where it is fixed, should be considered an important variable in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Louis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: DeFrate
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Ven
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Guoan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013718:Tensile Strength