Remodelling of human hamstring autografts after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

This is a joint research project between Máxima Medical Center Eindhoven (The Netherlands) and Charité University Hospital Berlin (Germany). Remodelling of human hamstring tendons after anterior cruciate ligament (acl) reconstructions by histological analysis. 67 patients underwent retrieval of biopsies between 6-117 months after acl reconstruction. Hamstring grafts showed typical stages of known remodelling process which was not finished up to 2 years after acl reconstruction. Especially the increasing myofibroblast density, from 12-24 months, allows to reason that the remodelling process in humans is elongated compared to the results from animal experimental studies.

The study has been nominated for the Prof Rik Huiskes Prijs 2013 and has been presented .
The results have been presented at the 14th ESSKA Congress (2010; Oslo, Norway), IMUKA 2010 Congress (2011; Maastricht, The Netherlands), 8th Biennial ISAKOS Congress (2011; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and the NOV Annual Congress 2013 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands).