Preconditioning patellar tendon autografts in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective randomized study.
This prospective randomized evaluated the effect of preconditioning patellar tendon autografts before implantation and fixation during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Fifty-three patients with a unilateral ACL rupture were included in the study. One group of patients had their patellar tendon autograft preconditioned by passive stretching at a constant load of 39 N for 10 min immediately prior to implantation (group P). The other group underwent no preconditioning before the implantation of the graft (group NP). The follow-up examination was performed by independent observers after 26 months (23-29) in group P and after 25 months (23-30) in group NP (n.s.). At follow-up the KT-1000 laxity test revealed a total side-to-side difference of 2.5 mm (-1.5 to +8.5) in group P and 3.0 mm (-7 to +6.5) in group NP (n.s.). The Lysholm score was 86 points (47-100) in group P and 94 points (44-100) in group NP (n.s.). The Tegner activity level was 6 (2-9) in group P and 7 (3-9) in group NP (n.s.). There was no significant difference between the study groups regarding IKDC classification. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using a preconditioned patellar tendon autograft had no advantages in terms of restoration of laxity or clinical outcome at 2-year follow-up.
Department of Orthopedics, Norra Alvsborg/Uddevalla Hospital, Sweden. lars.ejerhed@vgregion.se
L
L
Ejerhed
J
J
Kartus
K
K
Köhler
N
N
Sernert
S
S
Brandsson
J
J
Karlsson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017847:Patellar Ligament; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012421:Rupture; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing