Dansby Jalen, Tibone James, Huang Dave T, Nakla Andrew, Batten Casey, Metzger Melodie F
Cedars-Sinai, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jun 20;13(6):23259671251342607. doi: 10.1177/23259671251342607. eCollection 2025 Jun.
The quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft is increasingly becoming the graft of choice for reconstructing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), likely because recent clinical studies demonstrate low harvest-site morbidity and failure rates. Both full-thickness QT (FQT) and partial-thickness QT (PQT) graft techniques have been described for ACL reconstruction, but there is currently limited research to guide surgeons on which thickness is optimal.
To analyze and compare the material and mechanical properties of PQT and FQT grafts versus the standard patellar tendon (PT) graft.
Controlled laboratory study.
A total of 8 PQTs and 8 FQTs, each 10 mm wide, were harvested from the extensor mechanism from matched paired donors with a 10-mm PT graft. Specimens were loaded in tension to failure while load and displacement were continually recorded. Mechanical and material properties were calculated and compared using a 1-way analysis of variance.
FQT grafts had a greater cross-sectional area and were stronger and stiffer compared with PQT and PT grafts ( < .05). There were no significant differences in strength and stiffness between the PQT and PT grafts when loaded to failure. Both quadriceps grafts recorded a lower ultimate strain at failure compared with the PT grafts ( < .05).
The biomechanical results from this study demonstrate that PQT grafts have similar biomechanical properties to the current gold standard PT grafts.
These results suggest PQT grafts are mechanically sufficient and may be preferred, as they do not carry concerns of residual postoperative weakness and knee pain that are associated with FQT and PT grafts, respectively.
股四头肌肌腱（QT）自体移植物越来越成为重建前交叉韧带（ACL）的首选移植物，这可能是因为最近的临床研究表明其取材部位的发病率和失败率较低。全层QT（FQT）和部分层QT（PQT）移植物技术均已用于ACL重建，但目前指导外科医生选择最佳厚度的研究有限。
分析并比较PQT和FQT移植物与标准髌腱（PT）移植物的材料和力学性能。
对照实验室研究。
从配对供体的伸肌机制中获取8条宽度均为10 mm的PQT和8条FQT，同时获取10 mm宽的PT移植物。对标本进行拉伸加载直至破坏，同时持续记录载荷和位移。采用单因素方差分析计算并比较力学和材料性能。
与PQT和PT移植物相比，FQT移植物的横截面积更大，强度和刚度更高（P<0.05）。PQT和PT移植物在加载至破坏时的强度和刚度无显著差异。与PT移植物相比，两种股四头肌移植物在破坏时的极限应变均较低（P<0.05）。
本研究的生物力学结果表明，PQT移植物具有与当前金标准PT移植物相似的生物力学性能。
这些结果表明，PQT移植物在力学上是足够的，可能更受青睐，因为它们分别不存在与FQT和PT移植物相关的术后残留无力和膝关节疼痛问题。
