Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using four-strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts and metal interference screw fixation.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of 200 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions using hamstring tendons. This is a case series reporting on 200 endoscopic procedures for reconstruction of the ACL. This study included patients over 18 years old with a healthy controlateral knee, intact posterior cruciate ligament, and without any peripheral surgical procedure or cartilage injury. Patients having undergone prior ligament reconstruction were excluded from the study. The minimum follow-up was 1 year. Clinical review allowed for documentation of International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), KT-1000 arthrometer laxity measurement, and isokinetic dynamometric analysis. Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength loss was less than 17%. At review, overall IKDC evaluation found that 50% of patients graded A, 44% graded B, and 6% were C or D. The differential anterior laxity was graded A for 157 patients with a median of 1 mm. Of the 113 high-performance athletes, 98 (86%) had resumed a preinjury level of sporting activity. Endoscopic reconstruction using 4-strand hamstring autograft may be considered safe, reliable, and reproducible. Preliminary outcome is fulfilling and this technique corresponds completely to therapeutic fields regarding ACL reconstructions.