• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-43
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• 1999

Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction using four-strand hamstring tendon with looping around transfixing screw in femoral tunnel requires osteointegration between the grafted tendon and bone for stability of the knee. Authors have experienced a histologic finding of osteointegration between the grafted autogenous hamstring tendon and bone in femoral tunnel after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. A patient received arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with autogenous four strand hamstring tendon for the ACL injury. Traumatic re-rupture of mid-substance of ACL graft was developed at thirteenth week after operation. During the procedures of arthroscopic revision at fifteenth week after initial ACL reconstruction, biopsy was performed at the site of interface between grafted tendon and bone in femoral tunnel. Integration between the grafted tendon and bone was evident by demonstrating the continuity of collagen fiber between bond and tendon. This histologic finding and the low incidence of early graft failure suggest that free tendon autograft attached to bone by looping around a transfixing screw in femoral tunnel undergoes adequate osteointegration between 12 and 15 weeks after surgery and authors thought that insertion of bone chip into the femoral tunnel would accelerate osteointegration procedure.