Hamstring tendon versus patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using biodegradable interference fit fixation: a prospective matched-group analysis.
BACKGROUND
There are still controversies about graft selection for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, especially with respect to knee stability and functional outcome.


OBJECTIVE
Biodegradable interference screw fixation of hamstring tendon grafts provides clinical results similar to those achieved with identical fixation of bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts.


METHODS
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.


METHODS
In 1996 and 1997, primary isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft was performed in 72 patients. Since 1998, hamstring tendons were used as routine grafts. Matched patients with a hamstring tendon graft were selected from a database (n = 284). All patients were followed prospectively for a minimum of 2 years with KT-1000 arthrometer testing, International Knee Documentation Committee score, and Lysholm score.


RESULTS
In the bone-patellar tendon-bone group, 9 patients were excluded because of bilateral rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, 3 patients (4.2%) had a graft rupture, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up (follow-up rate, 92.1%), leaving 56 patients for a matched-group analysis. In the hamstring tendon database, the graft rupture rate was 5.6% (P = .698). The Lysholm score was 89.7 in the patellar tendon group and 94 in the hamstring tendon group (P = .003). The KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference was 2.6 mm for the patellar tendon group and 2.1 mm for the hamstring tendon group (P = .041). There were significantly less positive pivot-shift test results in the hamstring tendon group (P = .005), and hamstring tendon patients showed lower thigh atrophy (P = .024) and patellofemoral crepitus (P = .003). Overall International Knee Documentation Committee scores were better (P = .001) in the hamstring tendon group (hamstring tendon: 34 x A, 21 x B, 0 x C, 0 x D; bone-patellar tendon-bone: 17 x A, 32 x B, 6 x C, 0 x D).


CONCLUSIONS
In this comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone and anatomical hamstring tendon grafts, the hamstring tendon graft was superior in knee stability and function. These findings are partially contrary to previous studies and might be attributable to the use of an anatomical joint line fixation for hamstring tendon grafts. Thus, hamstring tendons are the authors' primary graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, even in high-level athletes.
Centrum für Muskuloskeletale Chirurgie, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt- und Freie Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
Michael
M
Wagner
Max J
MJ
Kääb
Jessica
J
Schallock
Norbert P
NP
Haas
Andreas
A
Weiler
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001863:Bone Screws; D050376:Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D013848:Thigh; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous