Short medial approach harvesting of hamstring tendons

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2016 Apr;102(2):269-72. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2015.12.004. Epub 2016 Feb 16.

Abstract

Harvesting the hamstring tendons for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is not straightforward to perform or to teach: the incision is small, the work-space is narrow and the surgeon's tactile feedback using the stripper is difficult to explain to juniors. The purpose of this short note is to describe a reliable means of harvesting the semitendinosus, gracilis or both. Patient and tourniquet positioning, instrumentation and landmarks are detailed; then the 6 steps (speed-bump 1, speed-bump 2, bubble, hook, expansions, stripper) are explained.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Auto-graft; Gracilis; Hamstrings; Semitendinosus.

MeSH terms

  • Anatomic Landmarks
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
  • Humans
  • Leg
  • Muscle, Skeletal / transplantation*
  • Patient Positioning
  • Tendons / transplantation*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / instrumentation
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods*