title: Failure rate of Achilles tendon allograft in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to determine the failure rate of patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with an Achilles tendon allograft by a single surgeon with the same surgical technique, graft fixation, and postoperative rehabilitation. The Achilles tendon allograft was obtained from a single source.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 158 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with Achilles tendon allograft, 144 were followed up at a mean of 40 months. The mean age was 29.5 years at the time of surgery. Evaluation included a questionnaire at serial follow-up visits, physical examination, and return to play.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 144 patients, 8 (5.6%) sustained traumatic reruptures or had evidence of laxity failure. Patients were divided into 4 age groups: less than 18 years, 18 to 25 years, 26 to 40 years, and 41 years or greater. Failure rates of 8.7%, 8.8%, 5.7%, and 0%, respectively, were found. A chi(2) contingency test was performed comparing patients aged 25 years or younger and those aged over 25 years with a resulting P value of .5811. No statistically significant difference between the groups of failures was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study show that the failure rate for freeze-dried Achilles tendon allograft in primary ACL reconstruction was 8 of 144 (5.6%). When these patients were followed up for a minimum of 24 months, we found failure rates of 8.7%, 8.8%, 5.7%, and 0% in those aged less than 18 years, 18 to 25 years, 26 to 40 years, and 41 years or older, respectively. No statistically significant difference between the groups of failures was seen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. anupshah78@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anup Ajit
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Patrick Callaghan
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: Walter Richard
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult