Twisting and Braiding Reduces Strength and Stiffness of Hamstrings Grafts Used for Acl Reconstruction

Studies of animal tendons have not yielded clear conclusions about how graft configuration affects stiffness and strength. A recent study of sheep tendons [1] showed that two different braiding techniques reduced failure load by 47% and 57%, respectively, from the parallel strand configuration. Braiding reduced stiffness by 82% and 85%. In a study of calves’ tendons [2], braiding and twisting did not affect failure load significantly. Braiding reduced stiffness by about 30%, while twisting had no effect on stiffness.