Dynamic ultrasound evaluation of regeneration of semitendinosus and gracilis tendon after graft harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
10.3760/cma.j.cn131148-20240618-00336
- VernacularTitle:自体半腱肌腱－股薄肌腱重建前交叉韧带术后再生肌腱的动态超声研究
- Author:
Bing ZHANG
1
;
Xiaoli HUANG
;
Hongyu ZHENG
;
Huihui YANG
;
Bei LAN
;
Wan CAO
;
Silin LIAO
Author Information
1. 广西壮族自治区人民医院超声科，南宁 530021
- Keywords:
Shear wave elastorgraphy;
Semitendinosus tendon;
Gracilis tendon;
Autologous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography
2024;33(11):947-953
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the regeneration and biomechanical property recovery of semitendinosus tendon(ST)/gracilis tendon(GT) after anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction using shear wave elastorgraphy (SWE) combined with high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS).Methods:Twenty-five patients who underwent ST/GT autograft reconstruction after ACL rupture at the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent HFUS, SWE and flexion strength assessment at pre-operation and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months postoperatively. The morphology, length, cross-sectional area and SWE of ST/GT and flexion strength of knee were recorded at each time point. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to compare the cross-sectional area and elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT at different time points. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT and flexion strength.Results:The regeneration rates of ST/GT after being harvested for ACL reconstruction were 88% and 92%. The length of the regenerated ST/GT were shorter than before operation(both P<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT, both in terms of time effect and inter-group effect ( F=27.264, 28.980; both P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed in the interaction effect ( F=0.670, P=0.652). The cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT was the largest at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and restored to the preoperative level at 12 and 24 months postoperatively (both P>0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the elasticity values of the regenerated ST/GT were significantly different in terms of time effect, group effect, and interaction effect ( F=265.402, 33.015, 11.475; all P<0.001). The elasticity of regenerated ST/GT post-operation gradually increased over time. The flexion strength level of knee gradually improved post-operation(χ 2=34.83, P<0.001). The elasticity values of the regenerated ST and GT showed significant positive correlations with the flexion strength ( rs=0.755, 0.761; both P<0.001). Conclusions:HFUS discovers that most of ST/GT can be regenerated after being harvested for ACL reconstruction. The flexion strength and elasticity value of regenerated tendon recover gradually with time. It is suggested that the SWE can predict the recovery of biomechanical property of regenerated ST/GT.
