title: Predicting the Hamstring Tendon Diameter Using Anthropometric Parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the importance of hamstring tendon autograft, one major disadvantage in applying this technique in the surgical reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament is individual variability in the tendon diameter. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to use anthropometric parameters such as gender, height and body mass index to predict 4-strand (quadruple) hamstring tendons (gracilis and 2-strand semitendinosus tendons).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study conducted on all consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction between 2013 and 2015. The anthropometric variables (age, gender, height, and body mass index) were recorded. The quadruple hamstring tendon (gracilis and semitendinosus) autografts were measured using sizing cylinders. The relationship between these parameters was statistically determined using the Pearson Spearman test and linear regression test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 178 patients eligible for the study was 29.58±9.93 (118 males and 60 females). The mean hamstring tendon diameter was 7.8±0.7 mm, the mean for males was 7.9±0.6 and for females 7.8±9 mm (P=0.0001). There were significant correlations between the mean hamstring tendon diameter with BMI (Pearson correlation=0.375, R2=0.380, andP=0.0001), height (Pearson correlation=0.441, R2=0.121, andP=0.0001), and weight (Pearson correlation=0.528, R2= -0.104 andP=0.0001). However, patient's age and genderwerenot found to be a predictor of the size of the hamstring tendon diameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on findings from this study weight, height, body mass index, and the length of the tendon may be predictors of the hamstring tendon diameter for anterior cruciate ligamentreconstruction. These findings could be used in preoperative planning of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery to estimate the size of the graft and select of the appropriate type of graft.
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardani-Kivi
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi-Mobarakeh
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirbolook
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Sohrab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keyhani
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Khashayar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saheb-Ekhtiari
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashemi-Motlagh
authors.affiliation: Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Parham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Porteghali
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Anthropometric parameters; Body mass index; Hamstring tendon