Relationship between anthropometric measurements and hamstring autograft diameter in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The role of anthropometric measurements in the prediction of hamstring autograft size remains unclear. In this internal review board - approved study, we evaluated medical records for patients receiving anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring autograft at our institution between 2006 and 2008. One hundred and thirty-two patients received hamstring autografts. Correlation coefficients and step-wise multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine the relationships between sex, age, height, body mass index (BMI), and hamstring graft diameter. Women had significantly smaller grafts than men (P < .00001). Twenty-four patients had grafts less than 7 mm in diameter and 18 of those patients were female. Age and BMI did not correlate with graft diameter in women. Height correlated to graft diameter in women (P = .002, R(2) = 0.14). Women shorter than 65 in had significantly smaller graft diameters (mean [SD], 6.94 [0.45] mm), than those women 65 in and taller (mean [SD], 7.20 0.49] mm; (P = .03). Age and height did not correlate with graft size in men. BMI greater than 25 kg/m(2) correlated with larger graft diameter, but BMI less than 18 kg/m(2) did not predict graft sizes less than 7 mm. Therefore, alternative graft options should be considered in women less than 65 in tall.

Results of arthroscopic repair of type II superior labral anterior posterior lesions in overhead athletes: assessment of return to preinjury playing level and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The majority of the literature on surgical outcomes of superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) repairs has focused on short-term follow-up of 1 to 2 years, not allowing adequate time for full rehabilitation and return to maximum level of competition for all types of athletes. Also, previous studies have concentrated on using questionnaires that primarily evaluate patients' activities of daily living, which do not focus on sport-specific performance. PURPOSE: To determine the midterm results of type II SLAP repairs in overhead athletes, focusing primarily on athletic performance as well as activities of daily living. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A retrospective review of 30 overhead athletes, who underwent an arthroscopic superior labral repair for a symptomatic type II SLAP tear between 2002 and 2007, was performed. Our study population included 22 male and 8 female patients with a mean age at the time of surgery of 24 years. Twenty-one patients participated in baseball or softball, and the remainder of patients were involved in javelin throwing or tennis. The average follow-up was 3.5 years. The outcome of treatment was evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) scoring system, assessing activities of daily living, and the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow (KJOC) score, assessing sport-specific performance. In addition, the length of time to return to sport and the degree of successful performance were evaluated. RESULTS: Repairs resulted in ASES scores comparable with those from prior published studies (average ASES score, 87.9). The KJOC score averaged 73.6. The athletes' perception was that they returned to approximately 84.1% of their preinjury level of function with a mean time to return to play of 11.7 months. There was a significant drop in the ASES to KJOC score for the baseball/softball players (87.9 ± 14.94 and 72 ± 19.24, respectively; P = .006). Patients reported an overall satisfaction rate of 93.3% with the procedure, with the majority being very satisfied. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic SLAP repairs show excellent results and a high rate of overall satisfaction; however, the outcomes are less reliable in throwers. The KJOC score provides a more stringent assessment of overhead athletes' function after SLAP repair than the ASES score. Our findings also indicate that SLAP repairs lead to improved shoulder function during routine daily activities but that consistent return to elite throwing sports may still remain somewhat problematic.