title: Remodelling of human hamstring autografts after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Histological analysis of the remodelling process of human hamstring tendon (HT) grafts after standardized anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with an accelerated rehabilitation protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven patients underwent retrieval of mid-substance biopsies after clinically successful hamstring autograft ACLR. Samples were allocated to one of three groups depending on the time point of retrieval: group 1 (6-12 months; n = 15), group 2 (13-24 months; n = 16) and group 3 (>24 months; n = 11). Biopsies from native HT (n = 17) and ACL (n = 8) served as controls. Cellular density, vascular density and myofibroblast density and collagen fibril alignment were analysed by haematoxylin-eosin, Masson-Goldner-Trichrom and immunohistochemical staining protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with native HT (330.4/mm²), total cell number was increased in groups 1-3 (Group 1 = 482.0/mm² (P = 0.036); group 2 = 850.9/mm² (P = 0.005); and group 3 = 595.6/mm² (P = 0.043). There were no significant differences between the groups for vessel density. Myofibroblast density was higher in group 2 (199.6/mm²) compared with native HT (1.9/mm², P = 0.014). Collagen orientation was irregular up to 12 months. Thereafter, collagen orientation became more regular, adapting to, but not fully restoring, the appearance of the intact ACL. For the first 12 months, cells were predominantly ovoid. Ensuing cell morphology changed to spindle shaped in group 2 and predominantly narrow long cells over 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human hamstring grafts showed typical stages of graft remodelling, which was not complete up to 2 years after ACLR. The remodelling process in humans was prolonged compared with the results obtained in several animal studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study, Level III.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Center, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, r.janssen@mmc.nl
authors.forename: Rob P A
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Wijk
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Harm A G M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Sven U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Scheffler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult