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The significant effect of the medial hamstrings on dynamic knee stability

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  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

While hamstring autograft is a popular option for the general population, BTB autograft is still significantly more popular among professional athletes due to concerns of altering knee kinematics with hamstring harvest. This study seeks to quantify the contribution of the medial hamstrings to knee stability.

Methods

Valgus knee laxity, anterior tibial translation, and rotational motion were measured in eight fresh-frozen cadaveric knees after forces were applied on the tibia in each plane (coronal, sagittal, and axial). Four muscle loading conditions were tested: (1) physiologic fully loaded pes anserinus, (2) semitendinosus only loaded, (3) gracilis only loaded, and (4) unloaded pes anserinus. The protocol was then repeated with the ACL transected.

Results

In the ACL intact knee, the neutral position of the tibia with an unloaded pes anserinus was significantly more externally rotated (p < 0.01) and anteriorly translated (p < 0.05) at all knee flexion angles than a tibia with a physiologic loaded pes anserinus. Applying an external rotation torque significantly increased external rotation for the fully unloaded (p < 0.001), gracilis only loaded (p < 0.001), and semitendinosus only loaded (p < 0.01) conditions at all flexion angles. Applying a valgus torque resulted in a significant increase in laxity for the fully unloaded condition only at 30° of flexion (p < 0.05). Applying an anterior tibial force resulted in significant increase in anterior translation for the fully unloaded condition at all flexion angles (p < 0.01), and for the gracilis only loaded condition in 30° and 60° of flexion (p < 0.05). Similar results were seen in the ACL deficient model.

Conclusion

The medial hamstrings are involved in rotational, translational, and varus/valgus control of the knee. Applying anterior, external rotation, and valgus forces on the hamstring deficient knee significantly increases motion in those planes. Harvesting the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons alters native knee kinematics and stability. This is clinically relevant and should be a consideration when choosing graft source for ACL reconstruction, especially in the elite athlete population.

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Funding

The authors of this study have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Aneet S. Toor, Orr Limpisvasti & Michael Banffy

  2. Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA, USA

    Hansel E. Ihn, Michelle H. McGarry & Thay Q. Lee

  3. University of California, Irvine, USA

    Hansel E. Ihn, Michelle H. McGarry & Thay Q. Lee

Authors
  1. Aneet S. Toor
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  2. Orr Limpisvasti
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  3. Hansel E. Ihn
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  4. Michelle H. McGarry
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  5. Michael Banffy
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  6. Thay Q. Lee
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Contributions

AT conceived idea of study, carried out the cadaveric studies in the laboratory, and wrote significant portion of the manuscript. OL made substantial contributions in conception, design, and helped revise manuscript. HI was heavily involved in conducting the cadaveric studies and writing the methods portion of manuscript. MM was involved in conducting the cadaveric studies and assembling/organizing the lab setting for experimentation. MB helped with study conception, revision of manuscript, and conducting studies. TL supervised the entire cadaveric study, made substantial contribution to design, and edited final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aneet S. Toor.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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The article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Toor, A.S., Limpisvasti, O., Ihn, H.E. et al. The significant effect of the medial hamstrings on dynamic knee stability. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 27, 2608–2616 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5283-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5283-x

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