title: Hamstrings tendon graft preparation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the WhipKnot™ soft tissue cinch technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Appropriate graft tension and secure graft incorporation in bone tunnels are essential for successful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstrings tendon autografts. The WhipKnot™ soft tissue cinch, introduced by Smith and Nephew in 2004, is an alternative option to the commonly used whipstitch technique during preparation of the hamstring autograft in ACL reconstruction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of the WhipKnot™ soft tissue cinch and technique during the preparation of the tendon graft for ACL reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 33 ACL reconstruction operations performed between February 2011 and December 2011 were included in this study. These were performed by a single senior surgeon who used the Whipknot™ technique for the preparation of each graft. Four were used for each operation; two for each end of the harvested hamstrings tendons, including semitendinosus and gracilis tendons respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 132 WhipKnots were used during the knee operations. Use of the WhipKnot™ technique resulted in successful graft preparations, tensioning and effective graft placement in the tibial and femoral tunnels in almost all instances. Only one case of WhipKnot™ failure (slippage) was recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the Whipknot™ technique is a safe, reliable and practical option for the preparation of the hamstrings autografts.
authors: Toowoomba Hospital, University of Queensland, QLD, Australia.
authors: Amin
authors: A
authors: Masoumiganjgah
authors: Umesh
authors: U
authors: Dhanjee
authors: Tendai
authors: T
authors: Mwaturura
authors: Cameron
authors: C
authors: Carmody