Isokinetic Flexion Strength Recovery After ACL Reconstruction: A Comparison Between All Inside Graft-Link Technique and Full Tibial Tunnel Technique
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
Abstract
Introduction: Recently, a new minimally invasive single bundle technique for anatomic ACL reconstruction has been described, called the 'All-Inside graft-link technique'. One of the advantages of this procedure is the reduced morbidity at the donor site as the graft choice is the quadrupled semitendinosus, thus sparing the gracilis tendon. The aim of this study was to evaluate isokinetic flexion strength recovery in patients who underwent a gracilis sparing technique compared to those with a full-tibial tunnel technique using a doubled gracilis and semitendinosus tendons (DGST) graft.
Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (22 patients) who underwent ACL reconstruction performed with an All-Inside graft-link technique; Group B (22 patients) who underwent ACL reconstruction with an Out-In technique and DGST graft. At a mean follow-up of 13 months, quadriceps and hamstring isokinetic peak torque deficits were recorded.
Results: In group A, the mean side to side peak torque flexion difference between the operated and non-operated limbs was -3% and the mean torque at 30° was -7.5% at high angular velocity (180°/sec); the mean peak flexion torque was 7.2% and the mean torque at 30° was 3.1% at low angular velocity (60°/sec). In group B, the mean side to side peak flexion torque was -3.5% and the mean torque at 30° was -7.6% at high angular velocity (180°/sec); the mean peak flexion torque was -7.2% and the mean torque at 30° was -11% at low angular velocity (60°/sec). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups at lower angular velocity both for the mean peak flexion torque and the mean torque at 30° (p = 0.009), with better results in the study group.
Discussion/conclusion: Gracilis sparing technique is a minimally invasive technique for ACL reconstruction and yielded a significantly better flexion strength recovery at lower angular velocity compared to a full tibial tunnel technique with DGST for ACL reconstruction.
DOI
10.1080/00913847.2018.1537535
Publication Date
2-2019
Keywords
ACL reconstruction, hamstrings, isokinetic, knee ligaments
ISSN
2326-3660
Recommended Citation
Monaco E, Redler A, Fabbri M, Proietti L, Gaj E, Daggett M, Ferretti A. Isokinetic Flexion Strength Recovery After ACL Reconstruction: A Comparison Between All Inside Graft-Link Technique and Full Tibial Tunnel Technique. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2019; 47(1). doi: 10.1080/00913847.2018.1537535.
