“Quadruple hamstring tendon graft versus Bone-Patellar- Tendon-Graft for arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear is the most common ligamentous injury to the knee joint. Two most commonly used grafts for reconstruction are Quadruple Hamstring tendons (QHT) and Bone Patellar Tendon Bone (BPTB) graft. Graft fixation techniques vary with different surgeons. Aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of reconstruction of ACL using QHT and BPTB grafts performed by single surgeon using Modified Cincinnati scoring system. Methods: Between November 2010 to May 2011, forty consecutive alternate patients, 20 in each group underwent arthroscopic assisted ACL reconstruction using BPTB graft or the QHT autograft. All the patients underwent standard ipsilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction procedure using the single incision AnteroMedial (AM) portal technique for BPTB graft or the QHT autograft done by a single surgeon. Patients were followed up regularly for a minimum period of 2 years. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 28.43 years (SD: 5.48). Mean Modified Cincinnati score at the end of 2 years was 99.0% for QHT group and 98.8% for BPTB graft group(p=0.48). The hamstring tendon group also had lower graft harvest site morbidity, as demonstrated by less kneeling pain at 2 years. Conclusion: There was no significant functional difference as demonstrated by Modified Cincinnati score among patients undergoing QHT graft or the BPTB graft for ACL reconstruction at the end of 2 years.