BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are varied. No previous studies have investigated the effect of graft length on the structural properties of the graft. HYPOTHESIS: Graft length significantly affects the structural properties of posterior cruciate ligament grafts. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Eight Achilles tendon grafts were tested under tensile loads up to 400 N at 3 different lengths: long (75 mm), medium (48 mm), and short (34 mm). These 3 lengths represent midtunnel fixation, inlay fixation, and fixation near the ligament insertions. RESULTS: Shortening the graft from both long to medium and from medium to short increased the stiffness by approximately 25%. Long and medium grafts displaced significantly more than medium and short grafts, respectively. CONCLUSION: The effective length of a graft, which is determined by where it is fixed, should be considered an important variable in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are varied. No previous studies have investigated the effect of graft length on the structural properties of the graft. HYPOTHESIS: Graft length significantly affects the structural properties of posterior cruciate ligament grafts. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Eight Achilles tendon grafts were tested under tensile loads up to 400 N at 3 different lengths: long (75 mm), medium (48 mm), and short (34 mm). These 3 lengths represent midtunnel fixation, inlay fixation, and fixation near the ligament insertions. RESULTS: Shortening the graft from both long to medium and from medium to short increased the stiffness by approximately 25%. Long and medium grafts displaced significantly more than medium and short grafts, respectively. CONCLUSION: The effective length of a graft, which is determined by where it is fixed, should be considered an important variable in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Authors: Willem A Kernkamp; Nathan H Varady; Jing-Sheng Li; Tsung-Yuan Tsai; Peter D Asnis; Ewoud R A van Arkel; Rob G H H Nelissen; Thomas J Gill; Samuel K Van de Velde; Guoan Li Journal: Arthroscopy Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 4.772
Authors: Willem A Kernkamp; Samuel K Van de Velde; Tsung-Yuan Tsai; Ewoud R A van Arkel; Peter D Asnis; Rob G H H Nelissen; Robert F LaPrade; Bertram Zarins; Guoan Li Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2017-07-05 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Thomas J Gill; Samuel K Van de Velde; Kaitlin M Carroll; William J Robertson; Benton E Heyworth Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Willem A Kernkamp; Axel J T Jens; Nathan H Varady; Ewoud R A van Arkel; Rob G H H Nelissen; Peter D Asnis; Robert F LaPrade; Samuel K Van de Velde; Guoan Li Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2018-10-26 Impact factor: 4.342