Erschienen in:
01.08.2010 | Knee
Electron microscopy of the remodelling process in hamstring tendon used as ACL graft
verfasst von:
Stefano Zaffagnini, Viviana De Pasquale, Leonardo Marchesini Reggiani, Alessandro Russo, Patrizia Agati, Beatrice Bacchelli, Maurilio Marcacci
Erschienen in:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
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Ausgabe 8/2010
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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.