Allograft choice for ACL reconstruction
An allograft is one of several types of grafts that can be used to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An allograft is tissue harvested from a human donor.
Patellar Tendon Autograft
The patellar tendon autograft is the second most common choice used for an ACL reconstruction autograft after the hamstring tendon autograft.
Quadriceps Tendon Autograft
The quadriceps tendon autograft is the third type of autograft used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. —– Learn more about the other graft types here —– Although the use of this graft was first described in 1979, it has not been widely used until more recently. The most recent surveys show that worldwide, this…
Synthetic grafts for use in ACL reconstruction
Synthetic grafts for ACL reconstruction were first introduced in the early 1980’s, however, they are rarely used. These first generation grafts showed initial promise with short term follow up, but had a high failure rate in the long run.
Hamstring Tendon Autograft
Autografts in ACL reconstruction are tendons harvested from the patient’s own body at the beginning of the procedure and prepared as a tissue graft that can be inserted into the knee during the same procedure in an attempt to restore the normal anatomy of the ACL.
Graft Choices in ACL Reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is currently the gold standard of care for ACL injuries, particularly for young, active individuals and athletes who plan to return to a high level of sporting activities. In ACL reconstruction, the torn ACL tissue is surgically removed and replaced with another tendon or “graft”.
Patellofemoral Instability: not just a dislocating kneecap
Patellofemoral instability is a debilitating condition that frequently occurs in young, active people, significantly affecting their quality of life. It can occur due to injury e.g. a direct impact to the knee, or from variations in a patient’s anatomy that allow the patella (kneecap) to dislocate with minimal force. Patellofemoral instability, however, is not just…
Limited evidence for stem cell therapy as a treatment for osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal injuries
Stem cell therapy has recently grown in popularity as a treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) and musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. The rationale for their use is their natural ability to develop into many different cell types, thereby contributing to the healing process. But what scientific evidence justifies their use in this area of health care?
We’re now on YouTube!
Visit us on YouTube to find educational videos about the Foundation, interviews with the Banff Sport Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeons, and more!
The importance of pre-surgery exercise: “Prehabilitation”
The surgeons at Banff Sport Medicine recommend an exercise program or ‘pre-habilitation’ (prehab) prior to surgery. Research shows that regaining the strength and movement in your injured limb before surgery will improve your recovery.
Runner’s Knee: 10 exercises to help prevent and treat it
With the weather starting to warm up and the snow melting, people are dusting off their running shoes and getting back into an outdoor fitness regime. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year our Banff Sport Medicine Physicians start to see more patients suffering from “Runner’s knee”, also known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)…
Banff Sport Medicine patients contribute to groundbreaking research
Over 140 Banff Sport Medicine patients aged under 25 years that underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery from 2014 to 2016 contributed to the findings of one of the largest ACL clinical research studies, called the STAbiLiTY Study. This study, led by Dr Alan Getgood from the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic in London,…