Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon allograft: an age-dependent outcome evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcomes of a consecutive series of nonrevision bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) allograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in patients aged 40 years or older and patients aged younger than 40 years.


METHODS
Prospectively collected data from consecutive BPTB allograft ACL reconstructions fixed with biodegradable interference screws and performed by a single surgeon were analyzed by use of established outcome measures. Preoperative and postoperative outcome assessments included Cincinnati, Lysholm, and Tegner scores and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) activity scores. Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and KT arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) measurements were obtained at a minimum of 24 months after surgery.


RESULTS
In total, 32 patients met the inclusion criteria (21 men and 11 women). The mean follow-up was 35 months (range, 24 to 58 months). Of the patients, 21 were aged younger than 40 years (66%) and 11 were aged 40 years or older (34%). The mean age was 35 years (range, 18 to 55 years). In patients aged younger than 40 years, the mean postoperative Cincinnati score was 82.4 (39.1 preoperatively); Tegner score, 6.2 (3.9 preoperatively); Lysholm score, 89.5 (46.8 preoperatively); and IKDC activity score, 2.7 out of 4 (1.7 preoperatively). Five patients had a positive postoperative Lachman test, but none had a positive pivot-shift test. KT examinations showed a manual maximum difference of less than 3 mm in all but 1 patient (mean, 0.7 mm). In patients aged 40 years or older, the mean postoperative Cincinnati score was 83.8 (44.4 preoperatively); Tegner score, 6.6 (3.9 preoperatively); Lysholm score, 88.8 (50.1 preoperatively); and IKDC activity score, 2.7 out of 4 (2.1 preoperatively). One patient had a positive postoperative Lachman test, but none had a positive pivot-shift test. KT examinations showed a manual maximum difference of less than 3 mm in all but 1 patient (mean, 1.3 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
The outcomes of BPTB allograft ACL reconstructions were not different both subjectively and objectively for patients aged 40 years or older and patients aged younger than 40 years. BPTB allograft ACL reconstruction provides consistent results for patients of all age groups.


METHODS
Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Barber
F Alan
FA
Plano Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Spine Center, Plano, Texas 75093, USA.
Aziz-Jacobo
Jorge
J
Oro
Fernando Barrera
FB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000637:transplantation*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult