Our technique for applying Arthrex Amnion Matrix to the quad tendon harvest site during ACL reconstruction was featured on the Orthopaedic Video Theater at this year’s AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The OVT video walks through the complete procedure, from graft harvest through membrane application and early rehabilitation.
Quadriceps tendon autograft has become one of my preferred graft choices for ACL reconstruction. The mechanical properties are excellent, donor site morbidity is generally lower than bone-patellar tendon-bone, and the graft can be tailored with or without a bone block depending on the clinical scenario. That said, harvest site complications remain a real consideration. Rectus femoris retraction, persistent quadriceps atrophy, and delayed neuromuscular recovery can affect return-to-sport timelines, particularly for competitive athletes who need full quad strength to perform at their level.
The Arthrex Amnion Matrix Approach
Our technique applies Arthrex Amnion Matrix directly to the quad tendon harvest site as a biologic adjunct. Amniotic tissue has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, serves as a scaffold for tissue regeneration, and contains growth factors, including HGF, EGF, and TGF-Beta, that support tendon healing and reduce adhesion formation. The preclinical literature has been encouraging, and early clinical applications in ACL reconstruction have demonstrated safety with favorable short-term outcomes.
Jordan et al. (2025) recently published two-year outcomes on amnion collagen matrix augmentation during ACL reconstruction at the Andrews Research and Education Foundation, showing the approach is safe with no adverse events attributable to the biologic. Woodall et al. (2018) originally described the technique for ACL reconstruction with amnion biological augmentation in Arthroscopy Techniques. At Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute, we have adapted this concept specifically for the quad tendon harvest site, with the goal of optimizing donor site healing so the patient can focus on their ACL recovery rather than the harvest site.
The OVT video illustrates the case of a 23-year-old male athlete undergoing ACL reconstruction with quad tendon autograft and amnion augmentation. Key steps of graft harvest, membrane application, and post-operative rehabilitation are covered.
Authors
Co-authors on this video include Tommy Drazick, MD (Orthopaedic Research Fellow), Savannah Knighton, MAL, ATC, OTC (Athletic Trainer and Research Coordinator), and Luke Bunch, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS (Physical Therapist), all from Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting ran March 2 through 6 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, bringing together thousands of orthopedic surgeons for education, research, and hands-on learning.