Are Hamstring Grafts a Predisposing Factor to Infection in R-ACL Surgery? A Comparative In Vitro Study

Background: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the formation of biofilms in bone patellar tendon bone grafts (BPTB grafts), and to compare it to the formation of biofilm formation in quadrupled hamstring anterior cruciate ligament grafts (4xHt graft). Methods: A descriptive in vitro study was conducted. One 4xHt graft and one BPTB graft were prepared. They were then contaminated with a strain of S. epidermidis. Later, a quantitative analysis was conducted by means of microcalorimetry and sonication with plating. Additionally, a qualitative analysis was conducted by means of electron microscopy. Results: No significant differences were found between the bacterial growth profiles of the 4xHt graft and the BPTB graft in microcalorimetry and colony counting. In the samples analyzed with electron microscopy, no specific biofilm growth pattern was identified upon comparing the BPTB graft to the 4xHt graft. Conclusions: There were no significant differences found at either the quantitative or qualitative level when comparing bacterial growth in the BPTB graft to that in the 4xHt graft. Therefore, the presence of sutures in the 4xHt graft cannot be established as a predisposing factor for increased biofilm growth in this in vitro study.