Rectus femoris graft harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not result in selective rectus femoris muscle volume loss or strength deficit at one year: quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, isokinetic and functional analyses

Description

Okutan and co-authors check, in 2026, whether harvesting the rectus femoris tendon from the front of the thigh to rebuild a torn anterior cruciate ligament weakens that muscle a year later. They use magnetic resonance volumetry, strength dynamometry, and hop tests in 54 patients whose operations ran from December 2024 to April 2025. Mean follow-up was 15.7 months in the retrospective series.

Patients scored a mean of 84.1 on the standard knee function questionnaire and showed a side-to-side laxity difference of just 1.8 millimeters on the arthrometer in the outcome battery. Every quadriceps muscle was smaller on the operated side, but the deficits were uniform, 9.63 percent for the harvested rectus femoris versus 8.52, 7.95, and 8.08 percent for its three partners, a spread that was not statistically significant, proving no selective harm to the donor muscle. Limb symmetry exceeded 90 percent on all strength and functional measures at one year.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13408146