2002, Number 3
Subcutaneous approach for obtaining patellar autologous tendon grafting for anterior cruciate ligament plasty. An alternative for female athletes
Zenteno CB, Zarur MN, Berkeley ME
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 3
Page: 161-162
PDF size: 23.80 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To harvest a patellar ligament graft through a reduced subcutaneous approach in athlete women, who have anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) instability, for avoiding excessive cosmetic derangement of the knee. Material and methods. A series of 10 operated on knees in 9 basketball or volleyball women players is reported. Central third of the patellar ligament was taken altogether with 2 cm of bone grafting, both from patella and tibia, through a subcutaneous approach in order to perform ACL reconstruction by arthroscopy. Knees were immobilized for 6 weeks after surgery and a rehabilitation program was installed afterwards. Follow-up was from 6 months to 8 years (25.8 months in avg.). Results. After a minimal average of 6 months, all women returned to their former sports activity. In some cases sporadic pain appeared at the point of the donnor site of the patella. As well, in some cases, certain separation between the remaining 2 stripes (medial and lateral) of the patellar ligament was observed with no cosmetic damage in the feminine knee. Conclusion. Obtaining bone-tendon-bone graft from the patellar ligament through a subcutaneous approach is considered a risk-free procedure that allows the knee a complete functional recovery as well as the practice of sports.REFERENCES
Chan KM, Li CK, Tang C, et al. Patellar tendon healing after removal of its central one-third may alter patellofemoral contact pressure and areas in dogs, First Biennial Congress of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1997: 11-16.