title: One-versus two-incision ACL reconstruction. A prospective, randomized study.
abstract: This study compares the early functional outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a one-incision endoscopic technique versus a two-incision arthroscopically assisted technique. Thirty patients with chronic ACL-deficient knees were randomly assigned to either group 1 (one-incision technique; 15 patients) or group 2 (two-incision technique; 15 patients). Middle third ipsilateral patellar tendon was used in all reconstructions. All patients followed the same home-based accelerated rehabilitation protocol. The International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system was used to assess pre- and postoperative knee function. The mean length of follow-up was 17 months for group 1 and 15 months for group 2. Three patients were lost to follow-up in group 2. Patients in group 1 achieved a mean one-leg hop value of 89% of the uninjured side while group 2 patients averaged 92%. The mean side-to-side difference in anterior tibial translation was 2 mm in both groups at manual maximum translation. The mean isokinetic quadriceps strength at 300 degrees/second of the operated side 1 year after surgery was 83% of normal for group 1 versus 73% for group 2. Both groups achieved maximum range of motion within 3 months. There was no statistically significant difference between the outcomes of the one- and two-incision techniques for ACL reconstruction. All patients in both groups had improved stability and function of their operative knees compared with their preoperative condition.
authors.affiliation: Baylor Sports Medicine Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Reat
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lintner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome