Year: 2026 | Month: July | Volume: 16 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 155-161
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260716
Anthropometric and Tendon Predictors of Hamstring Graft Diameter in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Study
K S Prateek Kumar Reddy1, Jayant Jain2, Satish Shervegar3, Deepak BV4, Mahesh G5, Ravi M Daddimani6
1Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
2Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
3Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
4Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
5Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
6Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Jayant Jain
ABSTRACT
Background: Hamstring graft diameter is a key determinant of successful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, with smaller grafts associated with increased risks of graft failure and revision surgery. Identifying reliable preoperative predictors of graft diameter may facilitate surgical planning and optimize graft selection. This study evaluated the relationship between anthropometric variables, semitendinosus tendon length, and hamstring graft diameter in patients undergoing primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 31 consecutive patients who underwent primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using ipsilateral hamstring tendon autografts between May 2024 and October 2025 at a tertiary care centre. Preoperative anthropometric parameters, including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and thigh circumference, were recorded. Intraoperatively, semitendinosus tendon length and quadrupled hamstring graft diameter were measured using standardized techniques. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate associations between anthropometric variables, tendon length, and graft diameter.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 32.9 ± 8.2 years, and the mean hamstring graft diameter was 8.55 ± 0.52 mm. Semitendinosus tendon length demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation with graft diameter (r = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.02–0.65; p = 0.037). Height (r = 0.25, p = 0.17), weight (r = 0.18, p = 0.32), BMI (r = 0.05, p = 0.78), and thigh circumference (r = 0.12, p = 0.49) showed weak, non-significant correlations with graft diameter.
Conclusions: Semitendinosus tendon length was significantly associated with hamstring graft diameter, whereas conventional anthropometric variables demonstrated limited predictive value. Tendon-specific assessment may improve preoperative estimation of graft size and assist surgical planning. Larger multicentre studies incorporating imaging-based tendon evaluation are warranted to validate these findings.
Key words: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; hamstring graft diameter; semitendinosus tendon; anthropometric predictors; tendon length.