title: Prediction of length and diameter of hamstring tendon autografts for knee ligament surgery in Caucasians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prediction of hamstring tendon autograft size facilitates preoperative planning of knee ligament surgery and may reduce the need for allografts in complex knee reconstructions. The aim of this study was to analyse whether length and diameter of hamstring tendon autografts can be predicted preoperatively with anthropometric parameters and patient characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this observational study, 725 consecutive Caucasian patients scheduled for ACL reconstruction were included. Preoperatively gender, age, height and weight were recorded. After harvest, tendon lengths of both gracilis and semitendinosus tendons were measured. Diameter of the final four-strand hamstring autograft was recorded. Relationship between length and diameter of tendon grafts and different anthropometric parameters were assed by linear and logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean lengths of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autografts were 28.9 ± 3.1 and 27.7 ± 3.0 cm, respectively. Length of the gracilis and semitendinosus grafts was independently related to patient height. Female gender was correlated with smaller graft diameter. One in nine female patients had a diameter <8 mm. The ratio in men was 1 in 36.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hamstring autograft length and size can be predicted in Caucasians. Length of the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons was related to patient height. Smaller graft diameter was related to female gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Center, Postbus 90052, 5600 PD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. r.janssen@mmc.nl.
authors.forename: Rob P A
authors.initials: RPA
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Center, Postbus 90052, 5600 PD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria J F
authors.initials: MJF
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Center, Postbus 90052, 5600 PD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Besselaar
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Center, Postbus 90052, 5600 PD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reijman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D064592:Autografts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D000070632:Hamstring Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People
keywords: ACL; Autograft; Diameter; Hamstring; Knee ligament reconstruction; Length; Multiligament; Tendon