Search Results (8)

Background and Objectives: Despite the high rate of donor site morbidity, a bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) graft remains the gold standard when choosing a graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Damage to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN) during graft harvesting results in sensory deficits. Despite its high occurrence in the postoperative period, many patients go untreated, leading to a lower quality of life and potential professional impairment. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PRF therapy in alleviating sensory deficits and enhancing sensory nerve function in patients who have undergone BTB ACL reconstruction. Materials and Methods: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Name of registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Trial registration number: NCT07257666; Date of registration: 2 December 2025; Study start date: 7 January 2022). Over a one-year period, the pilot study enrolled 53 patients, treated them with BPTB ACL reconstruction, and divided them into two groups. The testing group’s donor site and subcutaneous tissue were treated with Vivostat^® PRF, whereas the standard group’s donor site and subcutaneous tissue remained untreated. The primary outcome measured was a reduction in the subjective numbness, which was tested during follow-up checks. Secondary outcomes included the evaluation of subjective knee scores for functional recovery, reported by the patients on control exams. Results: The use of Vivostat^® PRF resulted in a statistically significant reduction in sensory deficit among the groups at eight months (p < 0.05) and twelve months (p < 0.01) following surgery, favoring the testing group. The most substantial decrease in symptomatic patients was observed between four and eight months post-surgery, with no statistically significant difference found between the eight- and twelve-month follow-ups (p > 0.05). Evaluations of subjective knee function and activity scores showed no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: Using Vivostat^® PRF helps reduce sensory impairment in the area and minimizes donor site morbidity after BPTB ACL reconstruction. Full article

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in sports and often require surgical intervention, e.g., ACL reconstruction (ACLR), aimed at restoring knee stability and enabling a return to pre-injury activity levels. The choice of graft is crucial, impacting biomechanical properties, clinical outcomes, and complication rates, and is especially important in revision surgeries after graft failure. Over the past 30 years, trends in graft selection have evolved towards more individualized approaches, considering factors such as patient activity level, prior injuries, and tissue availability. In Europe, autografts like hamstring tendon (HT), bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB), and quadriceps tendon (QT) are preferred, with the increasing use of QT grafts. This review synthesizes the current literature on graft selection and its influence on ACLR outcomes. Full article

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are a major concern in orthopedics, particularly affecting active individuals and often necessitating surgery. The incidence of ACL injuries is rising, especially in women, comprising half of knee joint injuries. These injuries, common in sports with pivoting actions, can lead to long-term joint issues like osteoarthritis. Advances in surgical methods and understanding of postoperative recovery are crucial for improving patient outcomes, with considerations for graft size, material, and reconstruction technique critical in the rehabilitation process. Material and Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS for studies from 2009 to 10 February 2024, focusing on “six-strand hamstring graft” outcomes in ACL reconstruction. Inclusion criteria were English publications on 6HS autografts’ biomechanical and clinical outcomes. Excluded were non-specific, BTB, or hybrid studies, and non-research articles. Out of 347 records, 9 were analyzed after rigorous screening and quality assessment. This review, emphasizing six-strand hamstring autografts, enriches orthopedic knowledge, particularly for ACL surgery. Results: This review evaluated studies on six-strand hamstring (6HS) autografts for ACL reconstruction, encompassing prospective, retrospective, and cadaveric studies with subjects ranging from 12 to 413. Findings indicate that 6HS autografts enhance knee stability and increase graft diameter, correlating with reduced graft failure rates and improved clinical outcomes, including high patient satisfaction and low re-injury rates. Rehabilitation varied, with recovery times quicker due to larger graft sizes, and most studies reported low complication rates, underscoring 6HS autografts’ efficacy in ACL surgery. Conclusions: Performing 6HS autografts in ACL reconstruction reveals that they offer improved knee stability and graft diameter, leading to better clinical outcomes. These autografts are associated with high patient satisfaction and low re-injury rates, suggesting their effectiveness in mimicking native ACL function and enhancing rehabilitation. However, research limitations highlight the need for further long-term, comprehensive studies. Full article

Background and Objectives: A bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) autograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is still considered the gold standard among many orthopedic surgeons, despite anterior knee pain and kneeling pain being associated with bone defects at the harvest site. Bioregenerative products could be used to treat these defects, perhaps improving both the postoperative discomfort and the overall reconstruction. Materials and methods: During a year-long period, 40 patients were enrolled in a pilot study and divided into a study group, in which bone defects were filled with Vivostat^® PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), and a standard group, in which bone defects were not filled. The main outcome was a decrease in the height and width of the bone defects, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging on the control exams during the one-year follow-up. The secondary outcomes included an evaluation of kneeling pain, measured with a visual analog scale (VAS), and an evaluation of the subjective knee scores. Results: The application of Vivostat^® PRF resulted in a more statistically significant reduction in the width of the defect compared with that of the standard group, especially at 8 and 12 months post operation (p < 0.05). Eight months following the surgery, the study group’s anterior knee pain intensity during kneeling was statistically considerably lower than that of the standard group (p < 0.05), and the statistical difference was even more obvious (p < 0.01) at the last follow-up. Each control examination saw a significant decrease in pain intensity in both the groups, with the values at each exam being lower than those from the prior exam (p < 0.01). A comparison of subjective functional test results 12 months post operation with the preoperative ones did not prove a statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: The use of Vivostat^® PRF reduces kneeling pain and accelerates the narrowing of bone defects after ACLR with a BTB graft, but without confirmation of its influence on the subjective knee score. Full article

Background and Objectives: The study addresses a significant limitation in applying bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) grafts in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. By exploring the tubularization of grafts, the study extends the understanding of this surgical technique. The dual approach of the study—focusing on biomechanical properties using an animal model and postoperative outcomes in humans—offers a comprehensive perspective. Materials and Methods: The experimental cohort encompassed ten pairs of fresh porcine bone-tendon-bone grafts. One graft in each pair underwent modification through sutures that transformed the flat graft into a cylindrical structure. Testing determined the force required for the modified graft to rupture mechanically, expressed as N/mm², compared to conventionally prepared bone-tendon-bone grafts. The second phase of the research involved a prospective randomized clinical trial comprising 120 patients undergoing operative ACL reconstruction. For half the cases, grafts were tubularized using a random selection process. Clinical evaluations preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively employed the Tegner, Lysholm, and IKDC scoring scales for knee assessment. Results: Experiments showed that ligaments made using the tubularized surgical technique have statistically significantly higher values of measured force and higher maximum elongation values than ligaments made using the classical method. The clinical study concluded that there was no significant difference between the two groups of patients in the average score on the Tegner, Lysholm, and IKDC scales before and after surgery. Conclusions: The study results showed that suturing the graft does not negatively affect its biomechanical properties, and tubularization significantly increases the values of force required to cause rupture and the values of maximum elongation during rupture. Given the possibility of the one-year follow-up period being insufficient, future investigations should extend this period to acquire objective functional insights post-surgery. Full article

Background and Objectives: An effective post-injury training program is essential to regain performance and fulfill criteria for return to sport for team sport athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 6 weeks of eccentric-oriented strength training vs. traditional strength training during the late-stage ACL-rehab phase on leg strength and vertical and horizontal jumping performance in professional team sport athletes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two subjects (14 males, 8 females, age 19.9 ± 4.4 years, mass 77.4 ± 15.6 kg, height 182.4 ± 11.7 cm) (mean ± SD) with a unilateral reconstructed ACL (BTB graft) were included in the study. All participants enrolled in the same rehabilitation protocol prior to the training study. Players were randomly assigned to an experimental (ECC: n = 11, age 21.8 ± 4.6 years, mass 82.7 ± 16.6 kg, height 185.4 ± 12.2 cm), and a control group (CON: n = 11, age 19.1 ± 2.1 years, mass 76.6 ± 16.5 kg, height 182.5 ± 10.2 cm). Both groups underwent an equivolumed rehabilitation program, with the only difference being in strength training, which consisted of flywheel training vs. traditional strength training for the experimental and control groups, respectively. Testing was organized before and after the 6-week training programs and included isometric semi-squat tests (ISOSI-injured and ISOSU-uninjured legs), vertical jump tests (CMJ), single-leg vertical jump tests (SLJI-injured and SLJU-uninjured legs), single-leg hop tests (SLHI-injured and SLHU-uninjured legs), and triple hop tests (TLHI-injured and TLHU-uninjured legs). In addition, limb symmetry indexes were calculated for the isometric semi-squat (ISOSLSI) test, the single-leg vertical jump (SLJLSI), and the hop (SLHLSI) tests, as well as the triple-leg hop (THLLSI) test. Results: Main effects of time across training were observed for all dependent variables (posttest > pretest, p < 0.05). Significant group-by-time interactions were found for ISOSU (p < 0.05, ES = 2.51, very large), ISOSI (p < 0.05, ES = 1.78, large), CMJ (p < 0.05, ES = 2.23, very large), SLJI (p < 0.05, ES = 1.48, large), SLHI (p < 0.05, ES = 1.83, large), and TLHI (p < 0.05, ES = 1.83, large). Conclusions: This study suggests that eccentric-oriented strength training in late-stage ACL recovery, undertaken twice or three times weekly for 6 weeks, results in better outcomes than traditional strength training in leg strength, vertical jump ability, and single and triple hop tests with injured legs in professional team sport athletes. It seems that flywheel strength training can be recommended in late-stage ACL recovery for professional team sport athletes in order to regain recommended performance outcome levels faster. Full article

Background: Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a well-established procedure and is standardly performed by orthopedic surgeons all over the world, there does not seem to be a standard protocol for early rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to give answers to the following questions: (i) Does (a) the use of a specific tendon graft, and (b) potentially additional therapy of concomitant pathologies influence surgeons’ choice of a distinct postoperative rehabilitation protocol after ACLR? (ii) To what extent do these rehabilitation recommendations differ? Methods: Retrospective analysis of currently used early rehabilitation protocols after ACLR in German-speaking countries (GER, AUT and SUI) was conducted. Rehabilitation criteria included weight bearing, range of motion (ROM), the utilization of braces, continuous passive/active motion therapy (CPM/CAM), rehabilitation training and sport-specific training. Tendon grafts were differentiated as hamstring (HAM) and bone–patellar tendon–bone grafts (BTB). Concomitant pathologies included meniscus injuries (+M) and unhappy triad injuries (+UTI). Results: Most of the surveyed protocols were differentiated according to the used tendon graft or additional therapy of concomitant injuries (ACLR-differentiated, n = 147 vs. ACLR without graft differentiation, n = 58). When comparing ACLR-HAM and ACLR-BTB, significant differences were found regarding weight bearing (p = 0.01), ROM (p = 0.05) and the utilization of braces (p = 0.03). Regarding ACLR+M, an overall significant decelerated rehabilitation could be detected. After ACLR+UTI-therapy, a significant delayed start to full weight bearing (p = 0.002) and ROM (p < 0.001) was found. Conclusions: Most orthopedic surgeons from German-speaking countries differentiate early rehabilitation after ACLR according to the tendon graft used and therapy of concomitant pathologies. No consensus about early rehabilitation after ACLR is available. However, tendencies for an accelerated rehabilitation after ACLR-BTB and a more restrained rehabilitation of multiple injured knees were detected. Full article

In-situ pH-sensitive cellulose fibers (IS-pH-SCF) were prepared by anchoring bromothymol blue (BTB) onto cellulose fibers (CF) modified with hydroxypropyltriethylamine (HPTTL) groups. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectrum analyses demonstrated that the HPTTL groups were grafted onto the CF. X-ray diffraction proved that cellulose I in the CF transformed into cellulose II after quaternization. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that the quaternized CF (QCF) surface was clean and uniformly ridged. The adsorption of BTB onto QCF was carried out via batch adsorption experiments. A kinetic study illustrated that the adsorption was a spontaneous process and described well by pseudo-second-order, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The activation energy for the BTB adsorption onto QCF was 52.89 kJ/mol, which proved that the BTB adsorption onto QCFs was chemically controlled. The pH response demonstrated that the IS-pH-SCF was highly sensitive to pH, with an obvious color change for pH 4 to 8. The release tests showed that BTB was anchored on QCFs and that no BTB was released. IS-pH-SCF has a potential use for indicating pH changes in food. Full article