title: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction best practice: A review of graft choice.
abstract: There is much literature about differing grafts used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Much of this is of poor quality and of a low evidence base. We review and summarise the literature looking at the four main classes of grafts used in ACL reconstruction; bone-patella tendon-bone, hamstrings, allograft and synthetic grafts. Each graft has the evidence for its use reviewed and then compared, where possible, to the others. We conclude that although there is no clear "best" graft, there are clear differences between the differing graft choices. Surgeon's need to be aware of the evidence behind these differences, in order to have appropriate discussions with their patients, so as to come to an informed choice of graft type to best suit each individual patient and their requirements.
authors.affiliation: Daniel A Shaerf, Philip S Pastides, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shaerf
authors.affiliation: Daniel A Shaerf, Philip S Pastides, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pastides
authors.affiliation: Daniel A Shaerf, Philip S Pastides, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Khaled M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sarraf
authors.affiliation: Daniel A Shaerf, Philip S Pastides, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Willis-Owen
keywords: Allograft; Anterior cruciate ligament; Autograft; Bone-patella tendon-bone; Hamstring; Patella tendon; Reconstruction; Synthetic