What is a patellar tendon graft?

This procedure repairs your knee after a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (commonly called the “ACL”). This ligament is in the center of the knee. It helps anchor the femur to the tibia. This surgery can allow you to regain normal knee function.

How is patellar tendon graft harvested?

Graft Harvest. With the knee flexed to 90°, an approximately 8-cm longitudinal incision is made from the inferior pole of the patella to approximately 2 cm distal to the tibial tubercle, along the medial aspect of the patellar tendon (not directly in the midline).

How long does it take for a patellar tendon graft to heal?

This study indicated that after approximately 6 months, in most patients, the patellar tendon recovered and other symptoms around the graft donor site, such as pain, also alleviated.

How strong is an ACL allograft?

Benefits. The bone portion of the graft allows it to incorporate and heal very quickly into the tunnels used for the reconstruction. It is quite strong. Biomechanical studies have shown that it is about 70% stronger than a normal ACL at the time of implantation.

How strong is patellar tendon graft?

The initial graft tensile strength of bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft is 2977 N with a stiffness of 620 N/mm. This is over 1.5 times the strength and 4 times the stiffness of the native ACL. Additionally, graft fixation should be secure enough to allow early rehabilitation with rapid incorporation of the graft.

Which ACL graft is the strongest?

The strongest option is the BTB graft. The graft incorporates more solid into the bone due to the bone plugs on either end of the tendon. However, BTB grafts have been known to have the slowest recovery time when it comes to meeting rehab milestones and returning to sport.

What is a bone patellar tendon bone allograft?

Surgery is often recommended to restore knee strength and function by reconstructing a damaged ACL with a graft. The graft may be obtained from the tendon that stabilizes the kneecap or patella and is called a “bone-patellar tendon-bone” graft or BPTB graft, as it consists of tendon and bony attachments.

Does patellar tendon grow back after graft?

We use the patellar tendon because it has a higher success rate than the other graft options available. It is the strongest type of graft found in the body and is just as strong as a normal ACL. The other benefit is that the tendon will grow back after taking the tissue out to create the new ACL.

How do you know if ACL graft failed?

Signs of ACL graft failure? The signs of ACL graft failure can include swelling, pain within the knee, locking within the knee, a mechanical block (which can be due to a bucket-handle tear of the meniscus), lack of full motion, and difficulty with twisting, turning, and pivoting.

Does the patellar tendon grow back?

What is the recovery time for a patellar tendon rupture?

The healing of patellar tear may take 4 to 8 weeks and following healing of the patellar tendon tear patient needs 4 to 8 weeks of physical therapy. In all recovery period for near normal activities is 8 to 12 weeks.

What is the difference between the patellar tendon and an ACL?

The patellar tendon is a tendon (tendons connect muscle to bone). They serve very different functions. The central third of the patellar tendon is frequently used to reconstruct a torn acl. The acl is an importan ligament (ligaments connect bone to bone), that restrains anterior or forward translation of the tibia.

What is free tendon graft?

Free tendon grafts are useful for peroneal tendon reconstruction particularly when both tendons are diseased or deficient or for revision operations. One can harvest the STG alone or in combination depending on the desired amount of tissue required for the reconstruction.

What is a patellar tendon tear?

Patellar Tendon Tear or Patellar Tendon Rupture (PTR) is an injury that occurs, when the tendon that attaches the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone), tears. The treatments associated with this injury, include both nonsurgical and surgical methods.