Two small anterior incisions for harvesting the patellar tendon autograft in arthroscopic reconstruction of the torn anterior cruciate ligament

ABSTRACT

The bone patellar tendon bone graft is known as the gold standard for reconstruction of the torn anterior cruciate ligament being strong, rapidly revascularised, and remodeled. The modern trends known are toward minimal invasive surgeries. The aim of this work is to assess the outcome of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction when two small longitudinal incisions were used to harvest the graft. The use of two small, anterior longitudinal incisions for harvesting the patellar tendon autograft in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament was assessed in 234 patients. The patients were 211 males, and 23 females. The mean age was 30 years. The patients were 211 males, and 23 females. The mean age was 30 years. The patients were 211 males, and 23 females. The mean age was 30 years. The patients were examined clinically at 2-3 weeks, 6-12 weeks, 6-9 months, and after 2 years postoperatively for wound healing, numbness or anesthesia in the incidence of anterior knee pain. Sutural pus was found in 1.7% of cases. Numbness or anesthesia occurred in 5.1% of cases after 2-3 weeks postoperatively that decreased to 1.2% after 6-9 months. Anterior Knee pain occurred in 8.9% of cases after 6-9 months postoperatively, and it decreased to 1% of cases after 2 years. We believe that using two separate anterior incisions leaving a skin bridge over the patellar tendon helped to decrease the incidence of injury of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, and decreased the incidence of anterior knee pain