Editorial Commentary: Hamstring Autograft With Preserved Insertions Versus Free Hamstring Autograft in Knee Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Clinically the Same but Statistically Different.

Abstract

There is considerable debate over the ideal graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in athletes. The use of a hamstring autograft with preserved insertions is an approach to ACL reconstruction that may lead to earlier healing and less morbidity in comparison to a free hamstring autograft. When compared in a randomized trial, statistically significant but clinically irrelevant differences in clinical outcome and instrumented laxity were observed. These contradictory findings highlight the importance of examining the results from many vantage points and further demonstrate the misleading conclusions that may result from reliance on P values.