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Revision ACL Reconstruction pp 33–41Cite as

Biomechanics and Etiology of ACL Graft Failure

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Abstract

Etiology of failure of primary ACL reconstruction is varied, and may be categorized with regard to timing in relation to the index procedure. While early graft failures (<3 months) are typically related to loss of fixation, sepsis, or aseptic biological reaction, more common are failures in the 3–12 month postoperative range which are often due to errors in surgical technique or aggressive physical therapy. Late failures are typically caused by trauma; a failure at any time may be multifactorial in nature. Understanding the potential cause(s) of graft failure is imperative for the treating surgeon prior to consideration of revision ACL reconstruction. This chapter will review the biomechanics of the native and reconstructed ACL and discuss the numerous potential failure mechanisms of ACL graft tissue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Peter D. Fabricant MD, MPH, Moira M. McCarthy MD, Andrew D. Pearle MD & Anil S. Ranawat M.D.

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  1. Peter D. Fabricant MD, MPH
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  2. Moira M. McCarthy MD
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  3. Andrew D. Pearle MD
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  4. Anil S. Ranawat M.D.
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Correspondence to Peter D. Fabricant MD, MPH .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Robert G. Marx

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Fabricant, P.D., McCarthy, M.M., Pearle, A.D., Ranawat, A.S. (2014). Biomechanics and Etiology of ACL Graft Failure. In: Marx, R. (eds) Revision ACL Reconstruction. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0766-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0766-9_4

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