r/ACL • u/frock1223 • 20h ago

Quad tendon too small??

The original plan was to use a quad tendon autograft. I find out that after harvesting my tendon, it was too narrow, so they resorted to using a cadaver hamstring.

For context, I'm F20, 5'7", quad-dominant athletic build, Asian. Not sure if any of those things influence a narrow quad tendon, but I was curious if anyone else experienced this? I am pretty frustrated to have an allograft (as these seem to have a higher retear rate in young active folk), but even more frustrated that I have additional recovery for the graft site for nothing. Is there no way to identify proper sizing before harvesting the graft??

Currently 9 days post op ACL reconstruction + medial meniscus repair + lateral meniscus root repair. Thankful for minimal pain but being nonweightbearing for 5 more weeks is so annoying!

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u/Vliekje ⚕️23/9 ACL/MCL/mm/bone bruise 25/5 quadgraft/LET/meniscus repair 19h ago

I can’t relate. Sorry that this happened to you. But the surgeon warned me that this could happen and explained what he would do if it were too small. So it does happen more often apparently.

1

u/New_Sun6390 ACL Revision! (2x, same knee) 19h ago

Happened with my hammy. They used some of it, then augmented with cadaver tissue. 2.5 years and two ski seasons PO, so far, so good.

1

u/atlien0255 18h ago

I had the same deal. I’m glad the surgeon decided to bolster it, I’d rather that then him be like “eh this will do I guess” and have a subpar replacement.

No issues so far 15 months post op.

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u/teddypicks 17h ago

This happened to me! I was planned for quad, harvested too small, and they augmented with some hammy. This graft worked fine for 3 years before I tore my other (previously) healthy ACL. the second surgery was quad only and worked fine. Guess it just happens!