New Technique for the Harvest Site Incisions During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction : Effects on Knee Paresthesia
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Abstract
Background: Injury to infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve has been reported as a commom complication of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction especially when traditional vertical incision has been performed during bone-patellar tendon-bone graft harvesting. Some patients suffered from knee paresthesia or even severe anterior knee pain after this procedure. Techniques which preserved the nerve should be investigated. Objective: To compare the area of knee paresthesia after ACL reconstructions between two techniques for the harvest site incisions.
Research design: randomized controlled trial
Methods: Sixty patients undergoing ACL reconstructions with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft were blinded and equally allocated into two groups. Group I received a new technique for the harvest site incisions, one small incision. Group II received a two-incision technique. Patient's age, time of the graft harvesting and area of paresthesia after 3-month and 6-month follow up were recorded. Statistic analysis was performed using mean, SD, 95% CI and unpaired t test.
Results: Patient's age was comparable between two groups. The graft harvesting time were 35.10 mins, 27.53 mins in group I, II respectively. The average sensory disturbance area after 3 months were 44.37 cm2 in group I and 78.57 cm2 in group II which was significantly different (p < 0.001). After 6-month follow up, the average sensory disturbance area were 34.00 and 71.50 cm2 in group I and II respectively (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The new technique for the harvest site incisions,one small incision, provided less knee paresthesia.
Key words: anterior cruciate ligament, incision, infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve, paresthesia
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References
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