[Clinical analysis of treating 164 cases of tendon and ligament injuries with allograft tendon].

OBJECTIVE

To research the operative method and the clinical efficacy of repairing and reconstructing tendon and ligament with allograft tendon.

METHODS

From September 2000 to May 2007, 164 cases with tendon and ligament injuries were treated, including 116 males and 48 females aged 21-47 years old (average 31.5 years old). There were 126 cases of anterior cruciate ligament injury, 18 cases of complete acromioclavicular dislocation, 10 cases of old dislocation of radial head, 4 cases of Achilles tendon rupture, 2 cases of tibialis anterior muscle rupture, 2 cases of patellar tendon rupture, and 2 cases of rectus femoris rupture. Time interval between injury and hospital admission was 4-345 days (average 75 days). Allograft tendon 10-26 cm in length with suture anchor or absorbable interference screw was used to reconstruct the ligament and tendon.

RESULTS

All wounds healed by first intention, except one case of rectus femoris rupture. All patients were followed for 10-36 months (average 21 months). The international knee documentation committee and the Lysholm score of patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury 12 months after operation were significantly higher than that of before operation (P < 0.01). According to the Lazzcano and Karlsson score standard, 13 cases of complete acromioclavicular dislocation at 10-12 months after operation were graded as excellent and 5 cases were good. According to Arner Lindholm score standard, 3 cases of Achilles tendon rupture at 8-16 months after operation were graded as excellent and 1 case was good. For the patients with tibialis anterior muscle rupture, at 10-17 months after operation, the limitation of dorsal extension in ankle joint was 5 degrees, and the muscle strength in the anterior tibialis muscle was decreased. For the patients with patellar tendon rupture, one completely restored the motion range of the knee joint 14 months after operation, the other had knee extension limitation of 10 degrees at 13 months after operation. For the patients with rectus femoris rupture, one had 15 degrees of extension limitation at 18 months after operation, the other suffered limitation of both extension and genuflex at 12 months after operation. According to the Broberg-Morrey score standard, 7 cases with old dislocation of radial head were graded as excellent and 3 cases were good at 3-36 months after operation.

CONCLUSION

Allograft tendon is a good material for repairing and reconstructing tendon and ligament injuries, but attention should be paid to postoperatively early exercise under appropriate protection and early management of local rejection.