Arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL with double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis tendons and fixation with bioabsorbable interference screws. Medium-term results

A prospective study was made of 129 patients following arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL to compare the 2-yr clinical results obtained with two techniques, namely a free patellar tendon (PT) graft or a double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis tendon (DLSTG) graft, and fixation with a bioabsorbable interference screw All patients were operated by the same surgeon in a random sequence. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of sex, age, interval between injury and reconstruction and sports level. The IKDC form, a KT-1000 arthrometer and the one-leg hop test were employed for clinical evaluation. Residual joint motility was significantly greater (p<0.05) in the DLSTG group, whereas the differences in femoropatellar symptoms, subjective and objective stability and recovery of function were not significant, MRI of 15 patients from each group 3 and 6 months after surgery revealed lower synovial reactivity and less joint effusion in the DLSTG group (p<0.03). It is felt that the clinical results of ACL reconstruction with a DLSTG graft combined with compaction and press-fitting and fixation with bioabsorbable interference screws are comparable with those provided by a PT graft.