How can I decide whether a hamstring or patella tendon reconstruction would be better for me? Who will make the decision?
The decision will be made by the surgeon and surgeons usually will have a preferred technique which they will recommend to most people based on their experience. Some surgeons will offer both techniques and will choose differently for different individuals (e.g. professional football players patellar tendon for reasons of graft strength, sedentary occasional athletes hamstring tendon for reasons of minimal side effects of surgery). If after discussing the positives and negatives you have a preference for one technique over the other, you can ask for a referral to a surgeon who specialises in that technique. For further information: Evidence base for ACL reconstruction, Dr J, Sport Health 2006 Autumn 24(1). Rationale for use of the patella tendon in ACL reconstruction, AJ Chapman, JRD Murray, TM Cross and MJ Cross, Sport Health 2006 24(1), (.pdf).
