Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Biopsies of the Semitendinosus Muscle following ACL Reconstruction - A Methodological Description

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether the ultrasound-guided biopsy technique could be used to analyse the histochemical profile of m. semitendinosus following ACL reconstruction with autologous semitendinosus tendon graft. Material and Methods: Sixteen patients were included in the study. During ACL surgery, specimens from m. semitendinosus were obtained via open biopsy. Ultrasound-guided biopsies from m. semitendinosus were performed 7 - 11 months postoperatively from operated leg (n = 16) and non-operated leg (n = 8). Results: Two biopsy samples were pooled and formed a specimen of approximately 150 fibres. For fibre type composition, there was correlation between open biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy data, (P = 0.003, r = 0.89). The r-value for mean fibre area was 0.72 (P = 0.06). The methodological error for fibre type 1 % and mean fibre area was 9 %. Postoperatively, no significant differences were found in fibre type composition or fibre type areas between the operated and non-operated leg. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided biopsy is an easy and safe technique that can be used for scientific studies and in clinical practice where biopsy from small muscles or from special location in muscles, such as in ruptures, scars or others is needed.

Ultrasound-guided biopsy - percutaneous needle biopsy - semitendinosus muscle - anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - fibre type and fibre areas

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