ACL Repair: Autograft (hamstring or patella?) or Allograft?

yu · 08-13-2011, 01:20 PM

I recently tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus and have to get surgery to repair the ACL and possibly the meniscus depending how stable it is. I was just wondering if anyone has gotten surgery on their ACL and what tendon you opted for. I've gotten advice from a couple people saying I should use the patella tendon or that I should get a cadaver tendon. I'm actually leaning more towards the hamstring tendon but I'd like to hear people's personal stories on this subject.

ybbiz34 · 08-13-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuBimmer

I recently tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus and have to get surgery to repair the ACL and possibly the meniscus depending how stable it is. I was just wondering if anyone has gotten surgery on their ACL and what tendon you opted for. I've gotten advice from a couple people saying I should use the patella tendon or that I should get a cadaver tendon. I'm actually leaning more towards the hamstring tendon but I'd like to hear people's personal stories on this subject.

I haven't personally had my ACL reconstructed but I've worked closely with two top-notch orthopedic surgeons and witnessed several ACL reconstructions in the past.

The method of using the central 1/3 of the patellar tendon (taken from the injured knee) is usually the go-to method in terms of strength of the graft and speed of recovery.

Hamstring graft is a solid second choice (less pain after surgery but longer road to recovery).

Cadaver graft would be the last resort. Out of the dozens of surgeries I witnessed, I only saw one cadaver graft used and that was on a patient who had several other grafts fail previously (patellar tendon and hamstring).

Good luck sir.

-=Hot|Ice=- · 08-13-2011, 05:29 PM

Tore mine 2 years ago. Go with option 1 posed above.

SebringS2k · 08-14-2011, 10:26 AM

same here, tore mine 2 years ago, was only given the option of patellar or allograft per the doc I went to, chose patellar. It's a faster recover initally (off crutches in a week), but even now, I have some lingering pain in the patellar region after playing basketball/football. I've got two other friends that tore their ACL, one went with hamstring and another with allograft, both don't have lingering pain...if I had to do it again, prob would try hamstring...good luck! recovery/PT is a bitch!

geneatals · 08-14-2011, 10:42 AM

Patellar tendon is preferable, HS then allograft to follow..

achilles isn't so bad either as the tensile strength is close to the tensile strength of the patellar tendon (which was something like 30% more than an acl actually).

I'm a PT, work in an outpatient ortho clinic. If you want to go back to high level of activity, go with the patellar tendon. A lot of surgeons are playing around with a double bundle repair now as well to increase stability/return to PLF....

GL with your surgery and rehab

ErvGotti · 08-14-2011, 10:44 AM

Had mine done about 8 month's ago and decided on the patella tendon, haven't had any problems with it yet. Also hopefully you dont have to have your meniscus repaired as it will add to the rehab time. I had both done and you'll have to spend about a month in a straight leg brace and crutches waiting for the meniscus to heal before you could really start rehabing the ACL.

GarySL · 08-14-2011, 11:01 AM

My wife tore her ACL and had a partial tear to her meniscus about 20 years ago & was given the option of using a portion her patella tendon or the cadaver option and she chose her body part despite the longer healing process. It was a grueling road to recovery (a broken titanium guide & remnant drill bit shards didn't help) but she has put it all behind her except for the brutal looking scars. Good luck with your surgery & rehab.

Bobble · 08-16-2011, 02:57 PM

Tore my ACL and meniscus many years ago. Had patellar tendon option for ACL and rehab for meniscus. Been many years no issues still ride a lot, jet ski (which is how I tore it racing) and water ski. Qualtiy effort in rehab will get you back but you will want to kill your therapist for what you go thru but it's all for the good!

08-13-2011, 01:20 PM	#1
yu Captain 103 Rep 757 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (3)	ACL Repair: Autograft (hamstring or patella?) or Allograft? I recently tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus and have to get surgery to repair the ACL and possibly the meniscus depending how stable it is. I was just wondering if anyone has gotten surgery on their ACL and what tendon you opted for. I've gotten advice from a couple people saying I should use the patella tendon or that I should get a cadaver tendon. I'm actually leaning more towards the hamstring tendon but I'd like to hear people's personal stories on this subject.
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08-13-2011, 05:29 PM	#3
-=Hot\|Ice=- Been There, Done That. 648 Rep 4,728 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Tore mine 2 years ago. Go with option 1 posed above.
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08-14-2011, 10:26 AM	#4
SebringS2k Private First Class 6 Rep 183 Posts Drives: '08 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wilmington iTrader: (0)	same here, tore mine 2 years ago, was only given the option of patellar or allograft per the doc I went to, chose patellar. It's a faster recover initally (off crutches in a week), but even now, I have some lingering pain in the patellar region after playing basketball/football. I've got two other friends that tore their ACL, one went with hamstring and another with allograft, both don't have lingering pain...if I had to do it again, prob would try hamstring...good luck! recovery/PT is a bitch!
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08-14-2011, 10:42 AM	#5
geneatals Ninja 390 Rep 4,014 Posts Drives: 2019 530e Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: So Cal (SFV) iTrader: (3)	Patellar tendon is preferable, HS then allograft to follow.. achilles isn't so bad either as the tensile strength is close to the tensile strength of the patellar tendon (which was something like 30% more than an acl actually). I'm a PT, work in an outpatient ortho clinic. If you want to go back to high level of activity, go with the patellar tendon. A lot of surgeons are playing around with a double bundle repair now as well to increase stability/return to PLF.... GL with your surgery and rehab __________________ 2019 AW G30 530e l ZPP l ZMP l ZDH Retired: 2016 F80 M3, 2012 E90 M3, 2008 535i Last edited by geneatals; 08-14-2011 at 12:52 PM..
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08-14-2011, 10:44 AM	#6
ErvGotti Major 124 Rep 1,362 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aviano iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 135i [6.00]	Had mine done about 8 month's ago and decided on the patella tendon, haven't had any problems with it yet. Also hopefully you dont have to have your meniscus repaired as it will add to the rehab time. I had both done and you'll have to spend about a month in a straight leg brace and crutches waiting for the meniscus to heal before you could really start rehabing the ACL.
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08-14-2011, 11:01 AM	#7
GarySL Lieutenant 1477 Rep 409 Posts Drives: 2006 Carrera 4S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Humboldt Co., CA iTrader: (0)	My wife tore her ACL and had a partial tear to her meniscus about 20 years ago & was given the option of using a portion her patella tendon or the cadaver option and she chose her body part despite the longer healing process. It was a grueling road to recovery (a broken titanium guide & remnant drill bit shards didn't help) but she has put it all behind her except for the brutal looking scars. Good luck with your surgery & rehab. __________________ '08 335xi (E90), 6MT, Arctic/Black, ZPP, ZSP (18"s), ZCW, CA, PDC, i-Pod Ordered-March 7, 2008, Shipped via Graceful Leader-March 21, 2008, Arrived Port Hueneme-April 11, 2008, Delivered-April 21, 2008
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08-16-2011, 02:57 PM	#8
Bobble Major 56 Rep 1,232 Posts Drives: Whatever POS the wife leaves Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	Tore my ACL and meniscus many years ago. Had patellar tendon option for ACL and rehab for meniscus. Been many years no issues still ride a lot, jet ski (which is how I tore it racing) and water ski. Qualtiy effort in rehab will get you back but you will want to kill your therapist for what you go thru but it's all for the good!
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