Initial fixation strength of modified patellar tendon grafts for anatomic fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Recently it has been shown that anatomic tibial graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is preferable in order to increase isometry and knee stability. To facilitate anatomic patellar tendon graft fixation, customized graft length shortening is necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the initial fixation strength of four different shortened patellar tendon grafts including three bone plug flip techniques and direct patellar tendon-to-bone interference fit fixation in a model with standardized bone density. Ninety calf tibial plateaus (22 to 24 weeks old) with adjacent patella and extensor ligaments were used. Tendon grafts were shortened by flipping the bone plug over the tendon leaving a tendon-tendon-bone (TTB) construct and, as the first modification in the opposite direction resulting in a tendon-bone-tendon (TBT) construct. The second modification consisted of the TBT construct with interference screw position at the lateral aspect of the bone plug (TBTlat). As the fourth modification the tendon graft was directly fixed (Tdirect) with an interference screw. In addition, a round-threaded titanium (RCI; Smith & Nephew DonJoy, Carlsbad, CA), a round-threaded biodegradable screw (Sysorb; Sulzer Orthopedics, Münsingen, Switzerland), and a conventional titanium interference screw (Arthrex Inc, Naples, FL) were compared. We found that TTB (mean 441 N for biodegradable screw, 357 N for RCI screw, 384 N for conventional screw) and TBT (mean 407 N for biodegradable screw, 204 N for RCI screw, 392 N for conventional screw) construct fixation achieves comparable fixation strength, although failure in the TTB was due to tendon strip off at its ligamentous insertion. The highest failure load was found in TBTlat fixation (mean 610 N for biodegradable screw, 479 N for RCI screw). Therefore, this technique should be recommended when using a tendon flip technique. The failure load for Tdirect fixation (mean 437 N for biodegradable screw, 364 N for RCI screw) was similar to that of TTB and TBT fixation, which may indicate that a patellar-tendon graft harvested without its patellar bone plug and directly fixed with an interference screw is equivalent to a flipped graft. This may additionally reduce harvest site morbidity and eliminates the risk of patellar fracture. The fixation strength of round-threaded biodegradable and conventional titanium interference screws was similar, whereas that of round-threaded titanium screws was significantly lower in the patellar tendon flip-techniques. However, it should be taken into consideration that round-threaded titanium screws are proposed for direct tendon-to-bone fixation.