title: Use of contact pressure-sensitive surfaces as an indicator of graft tension in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No previous description has been made about an objective method to test the graft resistance in MPFL reconstruction intraoperatively. In our study, we aimed to obtain intraoperative objective data about the graft resistance using contact pressure-sensitive surfaces and measuring pressure formed under the graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, double-layered contact pressure-sensitive Fuji Prescale Film bands were placed under MPFL in 15 fresh-frozen high above-knee amputates (Group 1) and under graft in 10 patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction (Group 2). Measured values at different flexion angles were compared between and in groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test. It has been found that the pressure under the graft was higher in patients having reconstruction as compared to the pressure under natural MPFL. Decreasing pressure values were observed with increasing flexion angles in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact pressure-sensitive surfaces provided objective data when placed under the graft in natural MPFL and during surgery. Therefore, they may be used as an objective marker providing information about graft resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir Ilker
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tecimel
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cay
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akmese
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011312:Pressure; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous