The likelihood of an anterior cruciate ligament re-tear after reconstruction with a hamstring graft depends on age, graft size and sex, according to a study led by Duong Nguyen, MD.
The study, which was presented at an American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., included an analysis of 503 athletes who received primary autograft hamstring ACL reconstruction. The surgeries were all performed by a single surgeon at the same facility, and the athletes were followed for two years to determine their postoperative outcomes.
Here's what you need to know:
1. The study included 235 females and 268 males. The average age of the athletes was 27.
2. Female athletes under 25 with a graft size of fewer than 8 millimeters had an increased chance of re-tearing their ACL following reconstruction.
3. Although the researchers found that age, graft size and sex affected an athlete's chance of re-tearing their ACL, they noted that more research is needed to determine the cause of this trend.
4. Dr. Nguyen concluded: "Given the results of our study, we feel that surgeons should counsel their younger, female patients accordingly and consider modifying their surgical techniques to utilize larger size grafts and/or rehabilitation strategies to lessen the chance of a re-tear."