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Updated: May 27, 2026
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Athymic Rat Model for Evaluation of Engineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts
Published on: March 26, 2015
A surgical technique using presoaked vancomycin hamstring grafts to decrease the risk of infection after anterior
Christopher J Vertullo1, Mark Quick, Andrew Jones
1Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Centre, Pindara Hospital & Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
Summary
Presoaking hamstring grafts with vancomycin significantly reduced joint infections after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared to intravenous antibiotics alone. This antibiotic presoak is a promising method for preventing surgical site infections.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Joint infections are a significant complication following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).
- Preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Antibiotic prophylaxis is standard, but novel methods are explored to enhance efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of vancomycin-presoaked hamstring autografts in preventing joint infections after ACLR.
- To compare infection rates between standard intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis and antibiotic-presoaked grafts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,135 ACLR patients over 7 years.
- Group 1 (n=285): Hamstring autograft with preoperative intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
- Group 2 (n=870): Vancomycin-presoaked hamstring autograft with preoperative IV antibiotics.
Main Results:
- Group 1 had a 1.4% infection rate (4/285), with Staphylococcus epidermidis identified in 3 cases.
- Group 2 had a 0% infection rate (0/870), with no documented infections or washouts.
- The reduction in infection rate in Group 2 was statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic vancomycin presoaking of hamstring autografts significantly reduces the rate of postoperative joint infections.
- This technique offers a potential new strategy for preventing infections in ACLR.
- Vancomycin presoaking is more effective than IV antibiotics alone in this patient series.