No Difference in Outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with "Bone-patellar Tendon-bone versus Semitendinosus-gracilis Graft with Preserved Insertion": A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The type of graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is still a topic of debate and there is still no clear consensus on the ideal graft for ACL reconstruction. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the outcome of ACL reconstruction surgery between hamstring tendon graft and bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty professional athletes were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups by computerized randomization. In Group I, ACL reconstruction was done using BPTB graft, and in Group II, ACL reconstruction was done using semitendinosus gracilis graft with preserved tibial insertion (STGPI). Postoperatively, patients were assessed for knee stability, Lysholm score, and WOMAC score. RESULTS: Mean KT-1000 side-to-side difference at 1 year was 2.31 ± 1.68 mm in BPTB cohort and 2.52 ± 1.6 mm in STGPI cohort (P = 0.4); and at 2 years, it was 1.98 ± 1.62 mm in BPTB cohort and 2.23 ± 1.6 mm in STGPI cohort (P = 0.4). Mean Lysholm score at 2 years was 96.1 ± 5.81 in STGPI cohort and 97.3 ± 4.62 in BPTB cohort (P = 0.15). Mean WOMAC score at 2 years was 3.3 ± 2.76 in STGPI cohort and 2.84 ± 2.21 in BPTB cohort (P = 0.25). Graft rupture rate was 3.75%; 3 patients in each group had graft rupture. Kneeling pain was present in 15% (12/80) of patients with BPTB graft whereas none of the patients in STGPI cohort had kneeling pain. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between two grafts in term of knee stability, visual analog scale score and functional outcome. However, hamstring tendon graft is associated with less donor site morbidity.

No Difference in Outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with "Bone-patellar Tendon-bone versus Semitendinosus-gracilis Graft with Preserved Insertion:" A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The type of graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is still a topic of debate and there is still no clear consensus on the ideal graft for ACL reconstruction. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the outcome of ACL reconstruction surgery between hamstring tendon graft and bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty professional athletes were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups by computerized randomization. In Group I, ACL reconstruction was done using BPTB graft, and in Group II, ACL reconstruction was done using semitendinosus gracilis graft with preserved tibial insertion (STGPI). Postoperatively, patients were assessed for knee stability, Lysholm score, and WOMAC score. RESULTS: Mean KT-1000 side-to-side difference at 1 year was 2.31 ± 1.68 mm in BPTB cohort and 2.52 ± 1.6 mm in STGPI cohort (P = 0.4); and at 2 years, it was 1.98 ± 1.62 mm in BPTB cohort and 2.23 ± 1.6 mm in STGPI cohort (P = 0.4). Mean Lysholm score at 2 years was 96.1 ± 5.81 in STGPI cohort and 97.3 ± 4.62 in BPTB cohort (P = 0.15). Mean WOMAC score at 2 years was 3.3 ± 2.76 in STGPI cohort and 2.84 ± 2.21 in BPTB cohort (P = 0.25). Graft rupture rate was 3.75%; 3 patients in each group had graft rupture. Kneeling pain was present in 15% (12/80) of patients with BPTB graft whereas none of the patients in STGPI cohort had kneeling pain. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between two grafts in term of knee stability, visual analog scale score and functional outcome. However, hamstring tendon graft is associated with less donor site morbidity.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management of Infection Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery (ACLRS) is a rare complication. Although there are number of studies from various Caucasian population but only few studies are available from Asian population. The aim of the study is to assess the incidence, risk factors and, clinical outcome using our treatment protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 1468 arthroscopic ACLRS, 26 patients with clinical suspicion of infection were critically analysed in terms of laboratory reports of arthrocentesis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and risk factors such as the type of graft, gender, diabetes mellitus, smoking, intraarticular steroid injection, and obesity. At final followup, all these patients were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS), Lysholm knee score, and Tegner activity level. RESULTS: In nine patients, culture did not show any growth and they showed improvement with arthrocentesis and oral antibiotics. These patients were labeled as suffering from aseptic effusion. In the remaining 17 patients, there was no clinical improvement or instead worsening of symptoms after arthrocentesis and oral antibiotics. These patients were labeled as suffering from an infection and underwent surgical debridement along with administration of injectable antibiotics. The history of intraarticular steroid injection before ACLRS was a significant risk factor for developing infection (P = 0.001). At mean followup of 2.8 years, mean VAS improved to 1.18 ± 0.99 from 6.2 ± 2.3. The mean Lysholm knee score and Tegner's activity level at the final followup were 79.2 ± 10.52 and 4.8 ± 2.30, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of infection was 1.2% (17/1468). The step-ladder approach of differentiating between aseptic effusion and infection and accordingly, following a treatment protocol, i.e., oral antibiotics alone or surgical debridement along with injectable antibiotics or additional debridement of graft in refractory patients, yielded satisfactory results.

Functional Outcome of Modified Weaver Dunn Technique for Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation.

BACKGROUND: The debate about the ideal surgical procedure for acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation is still unresolved and newer techniques are being evolved continuously. The present study evaluates functional outcome of ACJ reconstruction using the modified Weaver Dunn procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 35 patients (26 males, 9 females) with ACJ dislocation, between the age group of 18-48 years (mean age 31 years), were operated using modified Weaver Dunn procedure at our center from May 2005 to June 2010. The dominant side was involved in 25 patients (22 right, 13 left). The mean period from the time of injury to the surgery was 14 days (range 4-26 days). All the patients were assessed with Oxford shoulder score and the time required to return to preinjury level was recorded. RESULTS: At the mean followup of 95 months (range 72-120 months), the mean Oxford Shoulder Score improved from 25 ± 7.2 to 43 ± 6.9. 85% (30 out of 35) patients had satisfactory results, while 15% (5 out of 35) had mild shoulder dysfunction using this scoring system. Five patients had radiological evidence of Grade 2 ACJ subluxation. Out of these five patients, two developed ossification around the coracoclavicular ligament. Three patients had intermittent mild pain without any functional disability, and one had a moderate restriction of shoulder movements. CONCLUSION: ACJ reconstruction, using the modified Weaver Dunn procedure in ACJ dislocation, is a reproducible procedure and provides a good functional outcome.

Low re-rupture rate with BPTB autograft and semitendinosus gracilis autograft with preserved insertions in ACL reconstruction surgery in sports persons.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of bone-patellar tendon-bone graft (BPTB), semitendinosus-gracilis graft with preserved insertions (STGPI) and semitendinosus-gracilis-free graft (STGF) in terms of graft failure, objective mechanical stability, functional outcome, and return to sports in elite and recreational sports persons. It was hypothesized that the STGPI graft provided superior outcome as compared to the other two grafts. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-nine elite and recreational players who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery, with BPTB graft (N = 80), STGPI graft (N = 85), and STGF graft (N = 84) with a minimum follow-up of 2 years, were assessed using clinical tests, knee arthrometer (KT 1000™), single-leg hop test, Lysholm knee score, Tegner's activity scale, and return to sports. Groups were matched in terms of age, gender, mode of injury, side involved, the level of sports, associated injuries, and mean follow-up. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 24 years (range 16-46 years), with 227 males and 22 females, with a mean follow-up of 61.8 ± 25.9 months. At the final follow-up, the mean side-to-side difference by KT 1000™ was significantly superior in BPTB group (1.4 ± 2.1 mm) as compared to STGPI (1.9 ± 2.0 mm) and STGF group (2.5 ± 2.0 mm) (p = 0.002). The mean Lysholm knee score, Limb symmetry index (LSI) using single-leg hop test and the mean difference in pre-injury and post-surgery level of Tegner's activity scale were not significantly different. The rate of graft failure was significantly higher in STGF group (7.1%) as compared to BPTB (1.2%) and STGPI (1.2%) groups (p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: BPTB graft is a better graft in terms of mechanical stability than STGPI and STGF grafts. STGPI graft and BPTB graft are superior to STGF graft in terms of graft failure rate. However, there is no statistically significant difference amongst the three grafts in terms of return to sports and clinical tests of instability. STGPI graft is another option in the clinical setting with low graft failure rate like that of BPTB graft and with the added advantage of not having significant donor site morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.