Electron microscopy of the remodelling process in hamstring tendon used as ACL graft.
The purpose of the present study was to make a histological analysis of the remodelling process of hamstring tendon graft used as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The hamstring graft of eight patients was biopsied at different follow-up times from 1 to 10 years. The specimens were analysed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at ultrastructural level comparing them with a native ACL and a native hamstring graft. The hamstring graft was found to undergo ultrastructural changes in terms of number and diameter of fibrils with the major changes occurring in the first 2 years. At longer times after surgery (48 and 120 months) no important further changes were evident and the ultrastructure did not vary substantially from 2 to 10 years. In conclusion, the hamstring tendon used as ACL graft undergoes a transformation process but does not match the ultrastructure pattern of a normal ACL up to 10 years.
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy. S.Zaffagnini@biomec.ior.it
Stefano
S
Zaffagnini
Viviana
V
De Pasquale
Leonardo
L
Marchesini Reggiani
Alessandro
A
Russo
Patrizia
P
Agati
Beatrice
B
Bacchelli
Maurilio
M
Marcacci
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D003094:Collagen