Predictive value of preoperative 3-dimensional computer tomography measurement of semitendinosus tendon harvested for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative measurement of the semitendinosus tendon (ST) by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT), before using ST as the substitute in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study to compare anatomic findings with clinical findings.


METHODS
The study involved 28 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using autogenous ST graft. Preoperative 3-D CT images of ST were obtained with a multidetector-row CT scanner, and rendered qualitatively by the volume-rendering technique. The length and cross-sectional area of ST measured with 3-D CT were compared with the length of the harvested ST and the cross-sectional area of the grafted quadrupled tendon.


RESULTS
The total length of ST measured with 3-D CT ranged from 220.3 to 285.4 mm, with a mean (+/- SD) of 248.0 +/- 17.1 mm, and that measured at surgery ranged from 230.0 to 290.0 mm, with a mean of 257.1 +/- 16.5 mm. These 2 values showed a close positive correlation (gamma = 0.634, P = .002). The cross-sectional area of ST measured with 3-D CT ranged from 4.29 to 18.5 mm2 with a mean of 11.9 +/- 4.6 mm2, and that of the substitute measured at surgery ranged from 28.3 to 56.7 mm2 with a mean of 45.5 +/- 6.9 mm2). There was no significant correlation between the areas of ST measured by CT and the areas of ST measured during surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative 3-D CT imaging predicts the length of ST. These findings support the measurement of ST length by 3-D CT as a useful tool for planning ACL reconstructive surgery and for providing important preoperative information to patients.


METHODS
Level III, diagnostic study.
Yasumoto
Masanori
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Deie
Masataka
M
Sunagawa
Toru
T
Adachi
Nobuo
N
Kobayashi
Kenji
K
Ochi
Mitsuo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000637:transplantation; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous