Quadruple Hamstring Autograft Technique for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Reduces Allograft Augmentation

To assess the discrepancy in graft diameter between double- and quadruple-folded hamstring autografts and the need for allograft augmentation to obtain an adequate graft diameter during arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

All patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft between 2017 and 2021 at a single institution by a single surgeon were identified. The surgeon changed from double-folded hamstring autograft to quadruple-folded hamstring autograft within the study period.

A total of 191 patients were identified, of whom 57 received double-folded autografts and 134 quadruple-folded autografts. Patient characteristics between cohorts were similar. Median double-folded graft size (7.5 mm; interquartile range, 7.0-8.0 mm) was significantly thinner than the quadruple-folded graft size (9 mm; interquartile range, 8.5-9.5 mm, P = .001). Quadruple-folded autograft was less likely to require an allograft augmentation than the double-folded autograft (0.7% vs 26.3%) (odds ratio 0.02; 95% confidence interval 0.00-0.16; P < .001).

Quadruple-folded hamstring autograft provides a larger graft diameter and reduced need for allograft augmentation.

Level III, retrospective comparative study.