title: Prospective evaluation of arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Patellar tendon versus semitendinosus and gracilis tendons.
abstract: Eighty consecutive patients with chronic laxity due to a torn ACL underwent arthroscopically assisted reconstruction with either autogenous patellar tendon or doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Reconstructions were performed on a one-to-one alternating basis. Preoperatively, no significant differences between the two groups were noted with respect to age, sex, level of activity, and degree of laxity (chi square analysis). A standard rehabilitation regimen was used for all patients after surgery including immediate passive knee extension, early stationary cycling, protected weightbearing for 6 weeks, avoidance of resisted terminal knee extension until 6 months, and return to activity at 10 to 12 months postoperatively. Seventy-two patients were evaluated at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively (range, 24 to 40 months). No significant differences were noted between groups with respect to subjective complaints, functional level, or objective laxity evaluation, including KT-1000 measurements. Seventeen of 72 patients (24%) experienced anterior knee pain after ACL reconstruction. Overall, 46 of 72 patients (64%) returned to their preinjury level of activity. Mean KT-1000 scores were 1.6 +/- 1.4 mm for the patellar tendon group and 1.9 +/- 1.3 mm for the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons group. This study did find a statistically significant weakness in peak hamstrings torque at 60 deg/sec when reconstruction was performed with double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis tendons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento 95817.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Raskind
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013848:Thigh