Semitendinosus tenodesis for medial instability of the knee

Abstract

A new technique of semitendinosus tenodesis has been developed to treat medial instability of the knee. The semitendinosus tendon was sectioned at the musculotendinous junction. The accessory insertion of the tendon was dissected to be overlapping and parallel to the anterior band of the medial collateral ligament. An isometric point on the femur was located around the medial epicondyle. A bony trough was created just above the isometric point and a screw with washer was placed. The semitendinosus tendon was looped around the screw and the screw was tightened to hold the tendon in place. The free end of the tendon was pulled obliquely backward and passed through the insertion of the direct head of the semimembranosus tendon to reconstruct the posterior oblique ligament. The semitendinosus tendon reinforced both the medial collateral ligament and the posterior oblique ligament.