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Mini-invasive technique for bone patellar tendon bone harvesting: its superiority in reducing anterior knee pain following ACL reconstruction

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Abstract

Arthroscopically-assisted ACL-reconstructions are currently reliable, reproducible. Residual anterior knee symptoms however, especially after patellar-BTB graft use, are not uncommon occurrences. Contributing factors are numerous and include injury to the saphenous nerve infrapatellar branches and/or histologic changes at the harvest site. The use of mini invasive harvesting technique decreases the risk of injury to the saphenous nerve infrapatellar branches while preserving the peritenon. The double-incision approach significantly reduces the mid-term incidence of anterior knee pain after ACL-reconstruction. Additionally, this technique markedly decreases the occurrence of sensory disorders and the extent of hypoesthesia. We thus advocate the use of a double-incision graft harvesting technique in ACL-reconstruction using a patellar-bone-tendon-bone transplant.

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Correspondence to Philippe Beaufils.

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Beaufils, P., Gaudot, F., Drain, O. et al. Mini-invasive technique for bone patellar tendon bone harvesting: its superiority in reducing anterior knee pain following ACL reconstruction. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 4, 45–51 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-011-9077-8

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