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A Cut hamstring harvest technique more effective than a Push after ACLR
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June 2013
A Cut hamstring harvest technique more effective than a Push after ACLR
Study Type:Therapy
OE Level Evidence:1
Journal Level of Evidence:N/A
Hamstring pain and muscle strains following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized trial comparing hamstring graft harvest techniques
J Knee Surg. 2013 Apr;26(2):139-44. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1324811. Epub 2012 Sep 10Did you know you're eligible to earn 0.5 CME credits for reading this report? Click Here
Synopsis
34 patients were randomized to undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either the "Cut" or "Push" hamstring graft harvest technique to compare which method was more effective in lowering pain and the occurrence of hamstring muscle strain post-operatively. Following evaluations over a minimum of 24 months, it was observed that postoperative hamstring pain and the occurrence of hamstring strain were significantly lower in those patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using the "Cut" graft harvest technique versus the "Push" method.
Publication Funding Details
+
Funding:
Not Reported
Conflicts:
None disclosed
Was the allocation sequence adequately generated?
Was allocation adequately concealed?
Blinding Treatment Providers: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Outcome Assessors: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Patients: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Was loss to follow-up (missing outcome data) infrequent?
Are reports of the study free of suggestion of selective outcome reporting?
Were outcomes objective, patient-important and assessed in a manner to limit bias (ie. duplicate assessors, Independent assessors)?
Was the sample size sufficiently large to assure a balance of prognosis and sufficiently large number of outcome events?
Was investigator expertise/experience with both treatment and control techniques likely the same (ie.were criteria for surgeon participation/expertise provided)?
Yes = 1
Uncertain = 0.5
Not Relevant = 0
No = 0
The Reporting Criteria Assessment evaluates the transparency with which authors report the methodological and trial characteristics of the trial within the publication. The assessment is divided into five categories which are presented below.
4/4
Randomization
3/4
Outcome Measurements
3/4
Inclusion / Exclusion
4/4
Therapy Description
3/4
Statistics
Detsky AS, Naylor CD, O'Rourke K, McGeer AJ, L'Abbé KA. J Clin Epidemiol. 1992;45:255-65
The Fragility Index is a tool that aids in the interpretation of significant findings, providing a measure of strength for a result. The Fragility Index represents the number of consecutive events that need to be added to a dichotomous outcome to make the finding no longer significant. A small number represents a weaker finding and a large number represents a stronger finding.
Why was this study needed now?
Although the use of hamstring tendon autografts during ACL reconstruction has become popular, there has been debate on which hamstring graft harvest technique is most effective in improving functional outcomes following the procedure. This study aimed to compare whether cutting hamstring tendons distal to the musculotendinous junction ("Cut" technique) was more effective in reducing pain and increasing leg flexion strength compared to pushing the tendons away from the muscle belly during graft harvesting ("Push" technique).
What was the principal research question?
Which hamstring graft harvesting technique - "Cut" or "Push" - was more effective in reducing postoperative pain and hamstring muscle strain, when measured over a minimum period of 24 months?
Study Characteristics
-
Population:
34 competitive athletes of at least an amateur level requiring ACL reconstruction. All patients underwent the same rehabilitation protocol, which consisted of a straight leg splint for 2 weeks while performing range of motion exercises, swimming and cycling starting at 6 weeks, jogging at 4 months, sport specific training at 6 months, and full activity at 9 months
Intervention:
"Cut" Group: Patients underwent ACL reconstruction using the "Cut" hamstring graft harvest technique. The graft was harvested using a Linvatec instrument to cut the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons distal to the musculotendinous junction (Mean age: 32) (n=20) (reconstruction methods were similar between groups)
Comparison:
"Push" Group: Patients underwent ACL reconstruction using the "Push" hamstring graft harvest technique. The graft was harvested using an Acufex instrument to tear away the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in a pushing gesture (Mean age: 34) (n=14)
Outcomes:
The outcome measures were the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, level of sporting activity (measured using the Cincinnati sports activity ratings scale (SARS)), Cincinnati symptoms and activities of daily living scores (ADL), the Lysholm score, side-to-side difference of AP translation (measured using a KT-1000 arthrometer), leg flexion strength (measured using a "Kin Kom" dynamometer), pain (measured using a Visual Analogues Scale (VAS)), and hamstring strain evaluation
Methods:
RCT: prospective; blinded (patients and outcome assessor)
Time:
Outcomes were measured at a minimum of 24 months following ACL reconstruction
What were the important findings?
- Mean VAS pain score was significantly lower in the "Cut" group (10.05 mm; Range: 0-27 mm), in comparison to the "Push" group (24.66 mm; Range: 3-42.5 mm) when measured at 24 months (p=0.0398).
- At 24 months, no significant difference was noted for mean leg flexion deficit between the "Push" group (5.8%; Range: 2-11.3%) and the "Cut" group (5.6%; Range: 1.5-10.2%) (p=0.6).
- Significantly fewer patients in the "Cut" group experienced hamstring strain (>/= Grade 1; Hamstring Strain Classification) (5/20 patients; 25%), compared to the "Push" group (7/14 patients; 50%), when measured at 24 months (p=0.045).
- The median hamstring strain grade was 2 for the affected patients of both groups.
- There was no significant difference in mean Cincinnati SARS scores (p=0.35), mean Lysholm scores (p=0.71), median IKDC scores, and side-to-side difference of AP translation (p=0.302) at 24 months between the two groups.
- At 24 months the mean Cincinnati symptoms and ADL scores were significantly better in the "Push" group (Symptoms: 85; ADL: 107.5), in comparison to the "Cut" group (Symptoms: 80; ADL: 105) (Symptoms: p=0.016; ADL: p=0.0239).
What should I remember most?
The results of this study exhibited that postoperative hamstring pain and incidence of hamstring strain were significantly lower in those patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the "Cut" graft harvest technique when compared to the "Push" method. It should be noted that at 24 months though the mean Cincinnati symptoms and ADL scores were superior in the "Push" group.
How will this affect the care of my patients?
As the "Cut" graft harvest technique provides a significant reduction in postoperative hamstring pain and incidence of hamstring strain, this harvest method is recommended. Lower pain may help reduce the recovery time, thus, allowing an athlete to return to full activity faster. The clinical relevance of the better Cincinnati symptoms and activities of daily living scores in the "Push" group has yet to be determined. Future studies should consider using radiological analysis as an outcome measurement in order to expand the amount of evidence available on this topic.
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