Comparative study on bone patellar tendon bone graft and the hamstring tendon graft for reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament and evaluation of results

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study comprising thirty patients who presented with knee instability and/or pain at MVJMC AND RH from June 2018 to June 2020. They were diagnosed clinically and confirmed by MRI to have anterior cruciate ligament tear. Patients with 18 to 40 years of age with ACL tear that occurred more than 4 weeks without previous surgery/ligament damage were included in study while patients with <18 or >40 years of age and evidence of osteoarthritis on plain radiographs were excluded. Outcome evaluation was done using Lysholm knee score and patients were followed up at 4,8,12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year.

Results: Mean post-operative Lysholm score in bone patellar tendon bone group was 85.6 with median value of 85 and scores ranging 65 to 98. Mean post-operative Lysholm score in Hamstring graft group was 88.9 with median value 88 and range 70 to 98. Complications like superficial or deep infections, ligament laxity, instability, arthrosis or revision were not seen in our study.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by either quadrupled hamstring tendon graft or bone patellar tendon graft gives satisfactory results in short term follow up in terms of patient satisfaction, activities of daily living and return to near normal activity. However, a large scale study with long term follow up is required to evaluate the long term results.