A comparison of structural and mechanical properties of tubularized and native semitendinosus graft.
BACKGROUND
The semitendinosus tendon has a broad and thin length of aponeurosis. Tubularizing this portion of the graft converts it into a cylindrical structure, which may have implications for graft fixation.


OBJECTIVE
A tubularized semitendinosus tendon will demonstrate a higher tensile load to failure and increased stiffness compared with its native form.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
Twenty cadaveric paired semitendinosus specimens were used. Ten served as the control group; the other 10 underwent tubularization along the length of the aponeurosis. All testing was performed on the MTS 858 Mini Bionix II. Outcome measures included cross-sectional area, stress, stiffness, and peak load to failure.


RESULTS
The nontubularized tendons had a higher peak tensile load to failure (mean 1112.6 +/- 345.0 N) than the tubularized tendons (mean 711.4 +/- 228.7 N, P = .007). The nontubularized specimens also had a higher stiffness (213.0 +/- 37.2 N) than the tabularized group (144.9 +/- 44.8 N, P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Tubularization of the semitendinosus graft weakens its structural and mechanical properties.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the results of this study, we do not tubularize the semitendinosus graft in ACL reconstruction because of weakened structural and mechanical properties.
Wang
Robert Y
RY
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, New England Musculoskeletal Institute, Farmington, CT, USA. robwang1@hotmail.com
Arciero
Robert A
RA
Obopilwe
Elifho
E
Mazzocca
Augustus D
AD
D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D019563:Mechanics; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D016707:Tissue Fixation