ACL Graft Types

When you first tear your ACL, the two most common grafts used for teenagers (such as me) are the hamstring graft and the patella tendon graft. A more uncommon graft is the quadricep tendon. Cadavers are also used sometimes, but these are recommended for older people, or people that don't participate in sports daily. I will expand on this as I go into more detail of each graft type further down:

Hamstring: I have not used this graft, but I know many people who have, and it worked out just fine for them! It is not known as one of the strongest grafts for women due to the fact that our hamstrings are not as strong and built as a mans. One positive about this surgery is that, although it is painful, it is much less painful then if one were to use their patella. The incision is smaller than other grafts, too! Using this graft, though, does take a longer period of time before jogging is permitted (about 5 months). This is because with the hamstring graft, it takes a longer period of time for the bone to become one with the 'new ACL.'

*For more information on this graft, go to: http://www.eorthopod.com/content/hamstring-tendon-graft-reconstruction-acl

Patellar: I used this graft in my first ACL reconstruction surgery. Although it didn't work out for me, the  doctors I have spoken to (aka many of them) all say that this is the strongest graft one uses. My first doctor said that if a pro football player were to walk in with a torn ACL, this is the graft they would use. The patella is located just in front of your kneecap, and does make the rehab more painful. Regaining your range of motion hurts because the patella is removed right on top of the place the knee rotates. A positive to this surgery, though, is that the graft is bone-on-bone, which allows your ACL to mold into your knee sooner. Because it is bone-on-bone, it is often called BTB for bone-tendon-bone. There is also risk for patella fracture or patella tendon rupture after the surgery, although it is very unlikely. If one were to get this surgery, it is uncomfortable to kneel anytime afterwards. Therefore, if you were a plumber or a gardner, or are involved in any job where you are on your knees often, this is not the surgery for you!

*For more information to compare grafts, go to: http://www.aclsurgery.us/patellar-vs-hamstring/

Quadricep Tendon: This was the graft that I received for my ACL revision. Not many doctors use this graft, but it is known to be one of the strongest due to it's size and how it is part of one's quad. My scars are quite large, but I am happier with this graft than I was with the other one. My rehab progressed faster, and was less painful than the patella, but for some reason I feel more confident in with this graft in my knee. This is a newer surgery, but it is a very good idea for reconstruction ACLs. This is because after the first surgery, if the patella is taken, the hamstring is weak from the last surgery. Therefore the quadricep is really the only option from the same leg. This graft is bone to bone on one side, and the other side uses screws to keep it in. One cam start running at about 3-4 months like the patellar tendon graft.

*For more information on this graft, go to: http://www.orthoassociates.com/SP11B35/

Cadaver: First off, this is not the recommended option for anyone under the age of 30. Although many do get it, there is a greater risk of failure and/or infection. Because this graft comes from someone else, there is no big incisions, and a lot less pain than the other surgeries. If this surgery were to fail, though, there would still be three grafts left to choose from if one were to take the graft from their own body.

*For more information on this graft, go to: http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/aclrepain/a/aclgrafts_2.htm