Method: Twenty-seven patients were included in this study conducted from 1st January to 31st December 2013. All patients were skeletally mature and scheduled to undergo primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using 4S-STG autograft. Ultrasonographic examination of semitendinosus and gracilis tendons to measure the cross sectional area was conducted and anthropometric data (weight, height, leg length and thigh circumference) was measured one day prior to surgery. True autograft diameters were measured intraoperatively using closed-hole sizing block in 0.5 mm incremental size.
Results: There is a statistically significant correlation between the measured combined cross sectional area (semitendinosus and gracilis tendons) and 4S-STG autograft diameter (p = 0.023). An adequate autograft size (at least 7 mm) can be obtained when the combined cross sectional area is at least 15 mm2. There was no correlation with the anthropometric data except for thigh circumference (p = 0.037). Autograft size of at least 7 mm can be obtained when the thigh circumference is at least 41 mm.
Conclusions: Both combined cross sectional area (semitendinosus and gracilis tendons) and thigh circumference can be used to predict an adequate 4S-STG autograft size.
METHODS: The present study consisted of 50 lower limbs from formalin-fixed male adult cadavers aged about 70 years (45-85) belonging to the South Indian population. Total length of the quadriceps tendon, patellar height, patellar ligament height, proximal width, distal width and thickness of the patellar ligament were measured meticulously. Mean, standard deviation, median scores of each parameter were computed for groups using SPSS 16.0. Level of significance was considered as p
METHODS: Upper limb tendons were harvested with consent from patients with crush injuries and non-replantable amputations. These tendons (both extensor and flexor) measuring 1 cm are sutured to either side of a 0.5 cm synthetic tendon strip and cultured in growth medium. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, samples were fixed into paraffin blocks, cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome.
RESULTS: Minimal tendon ingrowth were seen in the first 2 weeks of incubation. However at 4 weeks, the cell ingrowth were seen migrating towards the junction between the tendon and the synthetic scaffold. This ingrowth continued to expand at 6 weeks and up to 8 weeks. At this point, the demarcation between human tendon and synthetic scaffold was indistinct.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that tendon ingrowth composed of collagen matrix were able to proliferate into a synthetic scaffold in vitro.