%0 Journal Article
%T Hamstrings tendon graft preparation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the WhipKnotTM soft tissue cinch technique.
%A Amin Masoumiganjgah
%A Umesh Dhanjee
%A Tendai Mwaturura
%A Cameron Carmody
%J Australasian Medical Journal
%D 2012
%I The Australasian Medical Journal pty ltd.
%X BackgroundAppropriate graft tension and secure graft incorporation inbone tunnels are essential for successful anterior cruciateligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstrings tendonautografts. The WhipKnot  soft tissue cinch, introduced bySmith and Nephew in 2004, is an alternative option to thecommonly used whipstitch technique during preparation ofthe hamstring autograft in ACL reconstruction.AimsTo investigate the effectiveness of the WhipKnot  softtissue cinch and technique during the preparation of thetendon graft for ACL reconstruction.MethodA total of 33 ACL reconstruction operations performedbetween February 2011 and December 2011 were includedin this study. These were performed by a single seniorsurgeon who used the Whipknot  technique for thepreparation of each graft. Four were used for eachoperation; two for each end of the harvested hamstringstendons, including semitendinosus and gracilis tendonsrespectively.ResultsIn total, 132 WhipKnots were used during the kneeoperations. Use of the WhipKnot  technique resulted insuccessful graft preparations, tensioning and effective graftplacement in the tibial and femoral tunnels in almost allinstances. Only one case of WhipKnot  failure (slippage)was recorded.ConclusionThese results indicate that the Whipknot  technique is asafe, reliable and practical option for the preparation of thehamstrings autografts.
%K Anterior Cruciate Ligament
%K Whipknot
%K graft preparation
%K reconstruction
%U http://www.amj.net.au/index.php?journal=AMJ&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=1241&path%5B%5D=921