Evaluation of hamstring strength following use of semitendinosus and gracilis tendons to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons combined with the appropriate extraarticular procedures has been performed by the authors in 482 cases. In 321 cases both the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were used and in 161 the semitendinosus alo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of sports medicine 1982-11, Vol.10 (6), p.340-342
Main Authors: Brant Lipscomb, A., Johnston, Robert K., Snyder, Robert B., Warburton, Mark J., Pressly Gilbert, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Humans
Knee Injuries - physiopathology
Knee Injuries - surgery
Knee Joint - physiology
Knee Joint - physiopathology
Ligaments, Articular - injuries
Ligaments, Articular - surgery
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction
Retrospective Studies
Tendon Transfer
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Summary:Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons combined with the appropriate extraarticular procedures has been performed by the authors in 482 cases. In 321 cases both the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were used and in 161 the semitendinosus alone. This retrospective study was done to determine if the use of these two tendons resulted in any significant loss of hamstring strength. Evaluation of quadriceps strength was also done as a measure of postoperative rehabilitation. Fifty-one patients with an average fol low-up time of 26.2 months were tested on the Cybex machine (Cybex Co., Ronkonkoma, New York) by two examiners using the same technique. The examiners had not participated in the surgery or rehabilitation of these patients. In the reconstructed knee in which both semitendinosus and gracilis were used, ham string strength was found to average 99% compared to the normal knee. When the semitendinosus alone was used there was no difference (102%) from the normal knee. Quadriceps strength in both groups averaged 96% in comparison to the normal quadri ceps. These results confirm that no significant loss of hamstring strength occurred when the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were used to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament. Further, quadriceps strength of 96% as compared to the normal knee indicated a very acceptable degree of postoperative rehabilitation in this series.
ISSN:0363-5465
1552-3365
DOI:10.1177/036354658201000603