Higher hamstring-to-quadriceps isokinetic strength ratio during the first post-operative months in patients with quadriceps tendon compared to hamstring tendon graft following ACL reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction who received either hamstring (HT) or quadriceps (QT) tendon autografts at two time intervals within the first year after surgery.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-four patients, 81 males (age 22.0 ± 6.2 years) and 43 females (age 20.9 ± 8.7 years), participated in this study. ACL reconstruction was performed with either quadriceps tendon autografts (QT; n = 61) or hamstring tendon autografts (HT; n = 63). Two isokinetic muscle strength tests (t1: 5.5 ± 1.2 months; t2: 7.6 ± 1.6 months) were performed at an angular velocity of 60°/s in both the injured and contralateral knees. An independent t test as well as a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.


RESULTS
A statistically significant lower knee extensor strength was observed in the QT group within one year after surgery (p < 0.001). Additionally, data showed a significant higher H/Q ratio in QT patients compared to the HT group at t1 (p < 0.001) and t2 (p = 0.001) as well as a significant effect over time (p < 0.001) and interaction effect of time and graft (p = 0.007). Side-to-side values for extensor muscle strength were significantly (p < 0.001) greater in HT graft patients, while QT patients showed significantly (p < 0.001) greater values for flexor muscle strength at both time points of isokinetic testing, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that graft choice has an impact on extensor strength in the first months after ACL reconstruction; however, there is no impact on flexor strength. The finding of a higher H/Q ratio in patients with QT grafts within the first months following surgery is possibly of clinical relevance. This may potentially be associated with lower stress on the maturing ACL graft. Furthermore, normal thigh strength can be restored over time.


METHODS
III.
Research Unit for Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, ISAG/UMIT, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
Felix
F
Fischer
Research Unit for Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, ISAG/UMIT, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria. c.fink@gelenkpunkt.com.|Gelenkpunkt - Sports and Joint Surgery, Olympiastraße 39, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. c.fink@gelenkpunkt.com.
Christian
C
Fink
Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
Elmar
E
Herbst
Gelenkpunkt - Sports and Joint Surgery, Olympiastraße 39, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Christian
C
Hoser
Research Unit for Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, ISAG/UMIT, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria.|Gelenkpunkt - Sports and Joint Surgery, Olympiastraße 39, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Caroline
C
Hepperger
Institute of Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism (ISAG), UMIT, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
Cornelia
C
Blank
Gelenkpunkt - Sports and Joint Surgery, Olympiastraße 39, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Peter
P
Gföller
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000070632:Hamstring Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
ACL; Autograft; Hamstring; Hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio; Isokinetic testing; Knee; Muscle strength; Quadriceps