title: Four-strand hamstring tendon autograft versus LARS artificial ligament for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: This retrospective study compared the results after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a four-strand hamstring tendon graft (4SHG) versus Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) artificial ligament in 60 patients between January 2003 and July 2004 with a minimum four-year follow-up. The KT-1000 examination, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scoring systems and Lysholm knee scoring scale were used to evaluate the clinical results. The mean side-to-side difference was 2.4 +/- 0.5 mm and 1.2 +/- 0.3 mm in the 4SHG group and LARS group, respectively (P = 0.013). Although other results of ACL reconstruction, measured by IKDC evaluation, Lysholm scores and Tegner scores, showed using a LARS graft clinically tended to be superior to using a 4SHG, there were no significant differences calculated. Our results suggest that four years after ACL reconstruction using a LARS ligament or 4SHG dramatically improves the function outcome, while the patients in the LARS group displayed a higher knee stability than those in the 4SHG group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Arthritis Institute, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, CT 200233, People's Republic of China. surgeon_liu@163.com
authors.forename: Zhong-tang
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xian-long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Bing-Fang
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult