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Background: Though vancomycin-soaked graft reduces the infection rate after ACL reconstruction, concerns exist regarding this usage. Gentamicin has been used for graft soakage with satisfactory clinical results but gentamicin's elution characteristics are unknown. Methods: Thirty Bovine tendon grafts were harvested from ten limbs under sterile conditions. Three tendons from each of the limbs were allotted into three groups and soaked in either saline, gentamicin or vancomycin. Pre-soakage and post-soakage swabs were cultured. Soaked grafts were immersed in a 10 ml saline solution for 5 min (initial washout) and then in another 10 ml saline solution (sustained release) for 10 min. No 1 Whatman filter paper was immersed in the solutions and placed on culture plates streaked with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus (CONS) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and inhibition was noted. The difference between the two proportions was assessed by two proportion t-test for p < 0.05. Results: No organism was cultured in the pre-soakage or post-soakage swab in any specimen. Specimens from one limb were excluded since saline-soakage showed inhibition. Elution from gentamicin-soaked graft inhibited CONS in eight out of nine samples in initial washout and all samples in sustained release solution but inhibited MRSA only in one sample in sustained release solution and the initial washout solution. Vancomycin elution inhibited both organisms in all samples. Conclusions: Gentamicin elution from tendon graft achieves minimal inhibitory concentration against susceptible organisms. Though its clinical utility is restricted by limited antimicrobial spectrum, and it could be used where the risk of contamination by MRSA is low.
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AIM: Infection after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, though rare, is a potentially devastating complication and the evidence-based recommendation on the various topics in its management is limited. The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations for the prevention and management of infections in ACL reconstruction surgery by performing a structured expert consensus survey using Delphi methodology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 22 topics of relevance in the prevention and management of infection following ACL reconstruction were chosen from an extensive literature review. 30 panelists were requested to respond to a three-round survey, with feedback, to develop a consensus statement on the topics. RESULTS: Consensus statements could be prepared in eleven out of twenty-two topics including: the graft is retained at the first arthroscopic debridement, the graft is removed when repeated debridement are needed, and revision ACL reconstruction is needed only if the patient develops instability. Concurrence could be obtained in the topics including: longer duration of antibiotics is needed in immunocompromised patients, soaking graft in antibiotic solution reduces infection risk, and knee swelling without warmth does not suggest infection. CONCLUSIONS: A proper skin preparation, a longer course of antibiotics in immunocompromised patients, and soaking the graft in antibiotics reduces the risk of infection. In case of infection, a healthy-looking graft must be retained at the first debridement and if the graft must be removed, revision ACL reconstruction is advised only if the patient develops instability. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-021-00363-z.
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BACKGROUND: Tripling semitendinosus tendon for ACL graft preparation facilitates creation of longer and thicker grafts. Our objective was to evaluate the mechanical difference between tripled tendon grafts, prepared by three methods, by comparing with quadrupled tendon graft. METHODS: Bovine hind-foot hoof extensors were allocated to four groups. Group I had quadrupled graft construct. Tripled graft constructs were prepared by passing the tendon to the Endobutton CL loop and stitching the third strand to (i) the loop (in Group II) or (ii) to one strand(in Group III) or (iii)to loop and both tendon strands (in Group IV). The constructs were preloaded from 10 to 50 N at 0.1 Hz for 10 cycles, followed by 1000 cycles of sinusoidal loading between 50 and 250 N at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. The specimens were then subjected to load to failure test at the rate of 50 mm/min. Displacement with cyclic loading, load at failure and the mode of failure were noted. RESULTS: The load at failure was 957 ± 23.30 N (Mean ± Standard Deviation) in Group I, 590.8 ± 24.40 N in Group II, 682.6 ± 59.28 N in Group III and 963.4 ± 21.72 N in Group IV. The displacement with cyclic loading was 1.13 ± 0.11 mm in Group I, 4.908 ± 0.55 mm in Group II, 1.822 ± 0.55 mm in Group III and 1. 126 ± .018 mm in Group IV. There was no significant difference between the Groups I and IV with respect to the load at failure and displacement (p > 0.05). The values were significantly different in Group II and Group III (p < 0.01), when compared to groups I and IV. CONCLUSIONS: Tripled grafts have mechanical properties equivalent to quadrupled grafts only when the three strands are sutured together. Caution may be warranted when using suspensory fixation device with tripled tendons and the third strand must be securely attached to the loop of fixation device and to the other two strands.
