The outcome of a free autogenous semitendinosus tendon graft in human anterior cruciate reconstructive surgery: a histological study.

This report illustrates the outcome of a free human autogenous semitendinosus tendon graft placed in the knee under arthroscopic control for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The tendon graft showed signs of injury by localized loss of normal histochemical staining properties. The cellularity was not diminished in an early (3-week) specimen. The resultant composite anterior cruciate ligament consisted of two distinct areas: tendon graft and surrounding fibrous tissue. The tendon maintained gross and microscopic characteristics of the original tendon. The tissue surrounding the tendon graft had a disorganized cellular pattern and hypervascularity. The tendon graft in this study did not show gross or microscopic evidence of death and reorganization. Previous reports have led to erroneous conclusions concerning the outcome of a free tendon graft due to inaccurate biopsy site of the reorganizing fibrous tissue surrounding the tendon graft.