title: Hamstring tendons regeneration after ACL reconstruction: an overview.
abstract: Despite the long lasting research the ideal method of reconstructing the ACL has not been found so far. The last year's attention has shifted to the use of the multistrand hamstring tendon grafts. High ultimate tensile load, multiple-bundle replacement that better approximates the anatomy of the normal ACL and low donor site morbidity are the main advantages of this ACL replacement graft. These theoretical advantages have been multiplied when surprisingly studies have shown that semitendinosus and gracilis tendons actually regenerate after harvesting for use as ACL autografts. In this review article we summarize the current knowledge concerning the hamstring regeneration and we focus on issues that have clinical relevance or issues that have not been answered so far.
authors.affiliation: St Olga's Hospital, 2nd Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Athens University, Athens, Greece. bniko@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Vassilios S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wredmark
mesh_terms: D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012038:Regeneration; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*