Hip extension strength following hamstring tendon harvest for ACL reconstruction

Hamstring autograft harvest for ACL reconstruction may have an effect on hip extension strength and this may be important especially in sports that involve high speed running such as soccer, rugby, American football and the sprint disciplines of track and field. This aspect of hamstring tendon harvesting has not been looked at before. We have performed a non-randomised prospective case control study comparing isokinetic hip extension strength following four strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendons (4SHS) and bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts in ACL reconstruction. Isokinetic hip extension was assessed at 3 and 12 months post-operatively using a Kin-Com machine at a speed of 30 degrees per second. Three months post-operatively there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the peak force of concentric hip extension in the 4SHS group. There was no evidence that hip extension is weaker following ACL reconstruction with 4SHS tendon autograft than ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft at 12 months post-operatively. We find no contra-indication to the use of 4SHS tendon autografts in ACL reconstruction in patients who wish to preserve hip extension strength for their sporting activities.