RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE USING FOUR-STRAND HAMSTRING TENDON AUTOGRAFT

Abstract

Introduction: In this study we evaluated shortterm results of the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, using four-strand semitendinosus (ST) and gracilis (G) hamstring tendon autograft and hybrid fixation of that graft in 15 patients.
Patients and methods: All patients were male with a mean age of 24.9 years. None of the patients had professional sportive activities. No patients had more than +2 Lachman and pivotshift laxity.All surgeries were performed with open technique using hybrid fixation methods (suspensory “fixation outside the tunnel”, and aperture “fixation inside the tunnel”). At the end of the 12th month the patients were evaluated according to Lysholm and IKDC score systems, instrumented stress testing, thigh atrophy, kneeling pain and hamstring area pain.
Results: The Lysholm scores were good and excellent for 13 patients (86.6%) and the IKDC scores were grade A and B for 14 patients (93.3%). Instrumented stress testing resulted in 0-2 mm laxity in 12 patients (80%). Eleven (73.3%) patients had thigh atrophy 1 cm and less, one (6.7 %) patient had hamstring area pain and none of the patients had kneeling pain.
Discussion: Short-term results of the ACL reconstruction using four-strand ST and G tendons and hybrid fixation of that graft were thought to be satisfactory according to subjective and objective criterion in young adults who were not professional sportsmen and had less than +3 Lachman and pivot-shift laxity.