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Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2/2022

Open Access 01-02-2022 | Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine

Quadriceps and hamstring tendon autografts in ACL reconstruction yield comparably good results in a prospective, randomized controlled trial

Authors: Hauke Horstmann, Maximilian Petri, Uwe Tegtbur, Gernot Felmet, Christian Krettek, Michael Jagodzinski

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

Introduction

Comparable data of functional outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using either hamstring- or quadriceps tendon grafts is controversial. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to provide data comparing both grafts regarding the functional outcome.

Materials and methods

A two centre trial involving symptomatic patients 18 years of age or older with an anterior cruciate ligament tear was conducted. We randomly assigned 27 patients to quadruple hamstring tendon reconstruction and 24 to quadriceps tendon reconstruction. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-surgery. The primary outcome parameter was the side-to-side knee laxity measured with an arthrometer. Secondary outcomes included results in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm Scores and isokinetic testing of strength in knee extension and flexion.

Results

Forty-four patients (86%) completed the 2-year follow-up. There was significantly improved knee stability at all time intervals with no difference between the two study groups. The manual side-to-side displacement improved by 4.7 ± 3.0 mm in patients with hamstring tendon reconstruction and 5.5 ± 2.9 mm in patients with quadriceps tendon reconstruction. In addition, muscle strength and outcome scores (IKDC and Lysholm Score) did not show any differences between the hamstring tendon group and the quadriceps tendon group. Patients in the hamstring tendon group returned to their pre-injury activity level after 95.2 ± 45.5 days while patients in the quadriceps tendon group needed 82.1 ± 45.6 days.

Conclusion

Quadriceps and hamstring tendon autografts yield comparably good results in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
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Metadata
Title
Quadriceps and hamstring tendon autografts in ACL reconstruction yield comparably good results in a prospective, randomized controlled trial
Authors
Hauke Horstmann
Maximilian Petri
Uwe Tegtbur
Gernot Felmet
Christian Krettek
Michael Jagodzinski
Publication date
01-02-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03862-8

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