Novel ACL Technique The French Revolution
Dr Biggs recently gave a live surgical demonstration of the TLS Short Graft ACL technique to a large group of GP’s and physiotherapists.
The short graft ACL reconstruction technique used by Dr Biggs has been developed over the last 10 years in Europe. There have been more than 40,000 operations of its kind across the globe. Dr Biggs is one of the first people in Australia to adopt this innovative technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions.
In traditional ACL reconstructions, two Hamstring tendons are harvested and used to create a long, slim graft that is secured in place in large bone tunnels, by either a direct screw into the graft or by a suspension device that sits on the outside of the bone. The graft diameter obtained is often less than 8mm.
With this new short graft Tape Locking Screw (TLS®) technique, only 1 Hamstring tendon is taken (in 90% of cases).
The instrumentation of this novel ACL system allows the surgeon to make a shorter, much larger diameter graft averaging 9mm, using only 1 tendon.
The larger graft diameter has been shown to reduce the incidence of re-injuring the knee in the future; and the superior TLS graft fixation allows for early walking and an accelerated rehabilitation.
There are major benefits for the patient with this novel system including;
- Single hamstring tendon harvesting
- Decreased graft donor site morbidity
- Improved speed of return of hamstring strength
- Preservation of future graft source
- Larger graft size that reduceces the chance of reinjury
- Less traumatic surgical technique leading to less bony bruising and therefore less pain
- Stronger fixation allows for accelerated rehabilitation allowing for an earlier return to work and sports training
Overall, the TLS® system represents a safe and effective technique for ACL reconstruction with a multitude of advantages over the traditional method.
