CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA MEASUREMENT OF THE SEMITENDINOSUS TENDON FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

We measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the semitendinosus tendo n (SMT) in 79 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRT) to scrutinize their appropriateness f or ACL grafts. Measurements of the CSAs of the SMT with MRI were close ly correlated with intraoperative direct measurement (gamma = 0.697). The mean CSAs of the SMT measured with MRI ranged from 6.3 to 15.0 mm( 2) with a mean of 10.1 +/- 2.1 mm(2) The CSA of the SMT measured with MRI proved to be a useful indicator to determine preoperatively whethe r the SMT graft would be of adequate dimensions (7 mm or more in diame ter, 60 mm or more in length) for ACL reconstruction. If the CSA of th e SMT was more than 11 mm(2), a sufficiently thick and long graft coul d be prepared with a tripled or quadrupled SMT in 89% of cases. We con clude that tissue CSA measurements using MRI could potentially be impl emented as a useful tool for determining the most appropriate donor au tograft tissue preoperatively, thus minimizing harvest-site morbidity.