The Influence of Different Hamstrings Assemblies on the Final Graft Diameter in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to compare gracilis and semitendinosus tendon graft diameters in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using quadruple, quintuple, and sextuple assemblies. Another objective was to evaluate the percentage of patients in which each assembly type is possible, depending on the length of each free tendon. Methods Seventy-one patients underwent ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendons. We measured the diameters of the quadruple, quintuple, and sextuple assemblies in all patients. We recorded tendon length and graft diameter from three assembly types. Results Assembly comparison showed a statistically significant difference ( p < 0.001). In each assembly, graft diameter increased by 1 mm, a statistically significant value ( p < 0.001). In 2.8% of patients, the only potential assembly was the quadruple assembly because the free lengths of the 2 tendons removed were lower than 24 cm. The quintuple assembly was possible in 23.9% of subjects, as only the semitendinosus had a minimum length of 24 cm. The sextuple assembly was possible in 73.2% of patients because both tendons were at least 24 cm in length. Conclusion A quintuple or sextuple assembly is possible in 97.2% of cases since the final graft length of at least 8 cm is statistically significant between comparisons.