title: A prospective randomized comparison of bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the results after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using central-third, bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB group), 3-strand semitendinosus (ST group), or 4-strand semitendinosus/gracilis (ST/G group) autografts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized series of 134 patients, all with unilateral ACL rupture was included in the study. In all 3 groups, interference screw fixation of the graft was used at both ends and 125 of 134 (93%) of the patients returned for the follow-up examination after 26 months (range, 20 to 43 months). The preoperative assessments in all 3 groups were similar in terms of gender, Tegner activity level, Lysholm score, KT-1000 measurements, 1-leg hop test, and the knee-walking test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, the knee-walking test was significantly worse in the BPTB group than in the ST group (P = .0004) and ST/G group (P < .0001). Furthermore, the knee-walking test was significantly worse at follow-up than preoperatively in the BPTB group (P < .0001). The corresponding findings were not made in the other 2 groups. A significant reduction in knee laxity and an increase in activity level compared with the preoperative assessments were found in all 3 groups, without any significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two years after ACL reconstruction, the use of ST and ST/G autografts rendered significantly less discomfort during the knee-walking test than the use of BPTB autografts. However, in terms of functional outcome and knee laxity, the groups displayed no significant differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gauti
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laxdal
authors.forename: Jüri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kartus
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidvall
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ejerhed
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*