TY - JOUR
T1 - Braided hamstring tendons for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament
T2 - A biomechanical analysis
AU - Tis, John E.
AU - Klemme, William R.
AU - Kirk, Kevin L.
AU - Murphy, Kevin P.
AU - Cunningham, Bryan
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: In an effort to improve the strength and stiffness of anterior cruciate ligament grafts, several authors have advocated alterations of graft structure and orientation, including braiding the tendons in hamstring tendon grafts. Hypothesis: Braiding hamstring tendons does not increase graft strength and stiffness. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixteen hamstring tendon and 21 bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts were harvested from 12 cadavers and divided into three groups: 1) braided four-strand hamstring tendon, 2) unbraided four-strand hamstring tendon, and 3) bone-patellar tendon-bone. All grafts were placed under a 50-N preload on a servohydraulic testing device and were tensioned to failure. Results: The strength and stiffness of the tested specimens averaged 427 ± 36 N and 76 ± 10 N/mm, respectively, for braided specimens, 532 ± 44 N and 139 ± 18 N/mm for unbraided specimens, and 574 ± 46 N and 158 ± 15 N/mm for patellar tendon specimens. There was a 20% decrement in hamstring tendon graft tensile strength and a 45% decrease in stiffness after braiding because of the suboptimal multidirectional orientation of individual tendons within the braided grafts. Conclusions: In vitro braided hamstring tendon grafts demonstrated mechanically inferior strength and stiffness characteristics compared with unbraided hamstring tendon grafts and patellar tendon grafts. Clinical Relevance: Braiding of hamstring tendon grafts provides no mechanical advantage in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
AB - Background: In an effort to improve the strength and stiffness of anterior cruciate ligament grafts, several authors have advocated alterations of graft structure and orientation, including braiding the tendons in hamstring tendon grafts. Hypothesis: Braiding hamstring tendons does not increase graft strength and stiffness. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixteen hamstring tendon and 21 bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts were harvested from 12 cadavers and divided into three groups: 1) braided four-strand hamstring tendon, 2) unbraided four-strand hamstring tendon, and 3) bone-patellar tendon-bone. All grafts were placed under a 50-N preload on a servohydraulic testing device and were tensioned to failure. Results: The strength and stiffness of the tested specimens averaged 427 ± 36 N and 76 ± 10 N/mm, respectively, for braided specimens, 532 ± 44 N and 139 ± 18 N/mm for unbraided specimens, and 574 ± 46 N and 158 ± 15 N/mm for patellar tendon specimens. There was a 20% decrement in hamstring tendon graft tensile strength and a 45% decrease in stiffness after braiding because of the suboptimal multidirectional orientation of individual tendons within the braided grafts. Conclusions: In vitro braided hamstring tendon grafts demonstrated mechanically inferior strength and stiffness characteristics compared with unbraided hamstring tendon grafts and patellar tendon grafts. Clinical Relevance: Braiding of hamstring tendon grafts provides no mechanical advantage in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
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U2 - 10.1177/03635465020300050901
DO - 10.1177/03635465020300050901
M3 - Article
C2 - 12239002
AN - SCOPUS:0036736748
SN - 0363-5465
VL - 30
SP - 684
EP - 688
JO - American Journal of Sports Medicine
JF - American Journal of Sports Medicine
IS - 5
ER -