Comparison of Semitendinosus and Quadriceps Grafts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Examining Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Quadriceps- vs. Semitendinosus Tendon Graft for Young Federated Male Football Players.

To investigate the differences between the two methods for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), to support the development of the best method for young federated male football players. After surgery with quadricipital tendon graft or semitendinosus tendon graft, a two-year follow-up and the rate of return to sport are proposed.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: ACL; ACL Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: ACL reconstruction

Detailed Description

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most common traumatic injuries in football, and surgery is proposed to restore knee stability. However, following surgery, few studies have focused on functional recovery of the knee with a wide arsenal of physical tests. Therefore, this study aims to study the efficacy for young football players of two types of grafts based on the most common tendons, the quadricipital and the semitendinosus (without the semimembranosus). Follow-ups will be performed at three months, six months, one year and two years after reconstruction. The variables measured will be isokinetic strength of flexors and extensors, unipodal jump test, self-perceived function, pain and tendon architecture with ultrasound.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 54
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Granada, Spain, 18071
    • Faculty of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed anterior cruciate ligament rupture by MRI.
• Prognosis of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
• Be a registered or recreational football player.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous knee surgery.
• Having articular cartilage lesions of Outerbridge grade greater than III-IV.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Semitendinosus tendon graft; Surgical reconstruction of primary ACL rupture with autograft harvested from the semitendinosus tendon (ST). The ST graft is harvested through a 4-5 cm incision at the pes anserinus. The semitendinosus is identified and harvested. The tendon is prepared and folded to a four-stranded graft with a total diameter of 8-11 mm. The femoral tunnel is placed anatomically central in the native footprint of the ACL. The tibia tunnel is also placed anatomically; the center of the tunnel being medially between the eminential spines at the level of the posterior margin of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The quadrupled ST graft is fixed proximally with the RIGIDLOOP® adjustable cortical system (DePuy Synthes) and distally with the RIGIDLOOP® XL adjustable cortical system.	Procedure: ACL reconstruction; In addition to surgical reconstruction, any structures that may have been injured concomitantly (meniscus, other ligament) will be repaired in the same surgery.
Experimental: Quadriceps tendon graft; Surgical reconstruction of primary ACL rupture with autograft harvested from the quadriceps tendon (QT) without bone block. The QT graft is harvested through a 4-5 cm incision at the upper pole of the patella. A graft sized 10-12 mm in with and app. 6 mm in depth is harvested from the middle part of the tendon. The femoral tunnel is placed anatomically central in the native footprint of the ACL. The tibia tunnel is also placed anatomically; the center of the tunnel being medially between the eminential spines at the level of the posterior margin of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The QT graft is fixed proximally with the RIGIDLOOP® adjustable cortical system (DePuy Synthes) and distally with the RIGIDLOOP® XL adjustable cortical system	Procedure: ACL reconstruction; In addition to surgical reconstruction, any structures that may have been injured concomitantly (meniscus, other ligament) will be repaired in the same surgery.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lower limb strength	assessed by an isokinetic test with an isokinetic dynamometer (HUMAC NORM)	Participants will be followed over 24 months
Horizontal hop test	assessed by horizontal jump with one leg and hands on the waist, measured with a centimetric tape (three jumping opportunities)	Participants will be followed over 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-reported functionality	assessed by Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and Modified Cincinnati Rating System Questionnaire (Spanish version)	Participants will be followed over 24 months
Knee pain	assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for knee pain. The subjective perception of pain from 0 to 10 will be registered. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.	Participants will be followed over 24 months
Pressure pain threshold	Using a digital algometer in epicondyle, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and quadricipitalis tendon, patellar tendon, and insertion of the semitendinous tendon	Participants will be followed over 24 months
Tendon ultrasound	it will monitor the morphology of the tendon and their surgical gap using ultrasound (Samsung HM70A echograph and Samsung Phased Array PE2-4 probe)	Participants will be followed over 24 months
Perimeters	measured with the volume of both legs (injured and uninjured) using the mid-thigh circumference.	Participants will be followed over 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Granada
• Collaborators: Hospital Vithas
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Manuel Arroyo-Morales, PhD PT, MD, Universidad de Granada

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 13, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 20, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 4, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 12, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: CRUZADO23

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No