Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft without detachment of the tibial insertion.
BACKGROUND
We report results of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a four-strand hamstring graft without detachment of the tibial insertion of the tendons.


METHODS
In 74 patients the hamstring graft was fixed using an endobutton on the femoral side and a barbed staple on the tibial side. There were 69 male and 5 female patients. The mean age at the time of operation was 35.1 years (21-53 years). Postoperatively, an accelerated rehabilitation was followed with no protective braces. The mean follow-up period was 64 months (range 48 to 84 months).


RESULTS
All patients achieved full range of motion with a stable knee joint. The mean side-to-side difference using KT-1000 was 1.43 mm (SD 3.86). The average Lysholm score improved from 42 to 79.2 and the Tegner score improved from 3.4 to 5.9.


CONCLUSIONS
Detachment of hamstring tendons from their tibial insertion is unnecessary and our results with accelerated rehabilitation without protective braces are satisfactory and comparable to other studies.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Corbett Hospital, Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK.
M Salman
MS
Ali
A
A
Kumar
S
S
Adnaan Ali
T
T
Hislop
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome