Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: 3-Incision Technique With Allograft Quad Tendon ACL Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are increasingly prevalent in athletes of all ages.
• Approximately 250,000 ACL injuries occur annually, necessitating effective and reproducible surgical solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a 3-incision outside-in technique for ACL reconstruction utilizing a quadriceps tendon allograft.
• To assess the feasibility and initial outcomes of this technique compared to traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• A 3-incision technique involving graft preparation, tunnel creation, and graft passage is detailed.
• The procedure uses a donor quadriceps tendon graft, avoiding secondary surgical site morbidity.
• Postoperative management includes rehabilitation and assessment of stability and return to sport.

Main Results:

• Initial patient outcomes are comparable to autogenous bone-tendon-bone (BTB) procedures, with no reported anterior knee pain.
• Return to sport timelines are similar to autogenous procedures, typically 6-12 months post-surgery.
• Further data is needed to definitively assess re-rupture rates compared to existing techniques.

Conclusions:

• The 3-incision technique with a quadriceps tendon allograft offers a reproducible method for ACL reconstruction.
• This technique avoids donor site morbidity associated with autogenous grafts.
• It presents a viable alternative for managing ACL injuries, particularly in active individuals.