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Electron microscopy of the remodelling process in hamstring tendon used as ACL graft

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 18, pages 1052–1058 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to make a histological analysis of the remodelling process of hamstring tendon graft used as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The hamstring graft of eight patients was biopsied at different follow-up times from 1 to 10 years. The specimens were analysed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at ultrastructural level comparing them with a native ACL and a native hamstring graft. The hamstring graft was found to undergo ultrastructural changes in terms of number and diameter of fibrils with the major changes occurring in the first 2 years. At longer times after surgery (48 and 120 months) no important further changes were evident and the ultrastructure did not vary substantially from 2 to 10 years. In conclusion, the hamstring tendon used as ACL graft undergoes a transformation process but does not match the ultrastructure pattern of a normal ACL up to 10 years.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. A. Montaperto, Dr. L. Bragonzoni, Dr. A. Visani, M. Bonfiglioli, G. Bernagozzi (Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute).

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

    Stefano Zaffagnini, Leonardo Marchesini Reggiani, Alessandro Russo & Maurilio Marcacci

  2. Istituto Anatomia Umana, Bologna, Italy

    Viviana De Pasquale & Beatrice Bacchelli

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Patrizia Agati

  4. Biomechanics Laboratory-Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, V. Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Stefano Zaffagnini

Authors
  1. Stefano Zaffagnini
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  2. Viviana De Pasquale
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  3. Leonardo Marchesini Reggiani
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  4. Alessandro Russo
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  5. Patrizia Agati
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  6. Beatrice Bacchelli
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  7. Maurilio Marcacci
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Correspondence to Stefano Zaffagnini.

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All authors confirm that this paper has not been published previously, is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the publisher.

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Zaffagnini, S., De Pasquale, V., Marchesini Reggiani, L. et al. Electron microscopy of the remodelling process in hamstring tendon used as ACL graft. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18, 1052–1058 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0925-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0925-7

Keywords

  • Knee
  • ACL reconstruction
  • Arthroscopy
  • Electron microscopy
  • Hamstring