Correlation of Calcific Deposits in the Patellar Tendon Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction​

Research Objectives: To investigate calcific deposits in the patellar tendon post anterior cruiciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Design: Cross-sectional study design.

Setting: Host institution's research facility.

Participants: Fifteen post-operative ACL reconstruction male and female participants were recruited between the ages of 18-41 from the host institution's campus. Participants had various graft types, with inclusion criteria of previous ACL reconstruction and no other procedures on the opposite knee.

Interventions: Participants provided knee history and if they had other procedures performed along with ACL reconstruction.
Participants were reclined with a cylindrical bolster for approximately 30 degrees of knee flexion​.
The patellar tendon of the subject's bilateral knees was scanned using GE Logiq E ultrasound unit with a linear probe using axial and transverse views. The non-surgical knee was scanned for comparison.
All procedures were performed within the same session for each subject.

Main Outcome Measures: Chi-square analysis with a p-value < 0.05 was used for correlations between the following groups: patellar vs non-patellar grafts, years out post-surgery, and male vs female.

Results: Fifteen participants completed the study. No significant differences were found between patellar vs. non-patellar grafts (p = 0.215), number of years out from surgery (p = 0.705), or male vs. female (p = 0.423). It was noted that the two subjects with calcific deposits had patellar tendon grafts.

Conclusions: Results showed no statistical significance of calcific deposits post ACL reconstruction, along with no relation between calcification in the patellar tendon post ACL reconstruction and the type of graft/years post reconstruction/gender. ​

This may assist clinicians in evaluating patients with a history of ACL reconstruction and any impairments that may be hindering their healing process.​

Limitations in this study included a sample of convenience in individuals 18 years old and older with a variation of knee surgeries performed, which cannot be generalized to the population. ​

Future research should include a larger participant pool.

​

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors do not declare any conflicts or biases.