Gender differences in outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.
BACKGROUND
It is now well documented that women are more likely to suffer anterior cruciate ligament injuries than are men. A few studies have examined gender differences in the outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon graft and hamstring tendon with EndoButton fixation, but no well-controlled studies have specifically compared men and women after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon graft and interference screw fixation.


OBJECTIVE
There is no difference in outcome between men and women after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft and interference screw fixation.


METHODS
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.


METHODS
There were 100 men and 100 women who underwent isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by a single surgeon. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at 1, 2, and 7 years after surgery. Variables were compared between female and male patients.


RESULTS
Laxity on physical evaluation was greater in women than in men on Lachman (P = .04), pivot-shift (P = .05), and mean manual maximum testing (P = .05) at 7 years. However, the magnitude of this difference was small. No patient had a greater than grade 1 Lachman or pivot-shift test result, and the mean difference between men and women was 0.6 mm on instrumented testing. Anterior cruciate ligament graft rupture occurred in 11 men and 10 women. There was no difference between male and female patients for self-reported knee function or symptoms of instability or radiologic examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft affords excellent self-reported and objective results in both men and women after 7 years. Although significantly greater laxity on physical examination was present in female patients than in male patients, the magnitude of this difference was small and had no effect on activity level, graft failure, or subjective or functional assessment.
Salmon
Lucy J
LJ
Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia. lsalmon@nsosmc.com.au
Refshauge
Kathryn M
KM
Russell
Vivianne J
VJ
Roe
Justin P
JP
Linklater
James
J
Pinczewski
Leo A
LA
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001863:Bone Screws; D050376:Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafting; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome