Long-Term Results of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Hamstring Grafts and the Outside-In Technique: A Comparison Between 5- and 15-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND: Increased femoral tunnel widening and weakness of the hamstring muscles postoperatively have been described as potential adverse events after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) with a hamstring graft. Meniscectomy and cartilage lesions are important factors for the development of degenerative osteoarthritis. PURPOSE: To compare 15-year follow-up data with 5-year follow-up data from the same cohort of patients after ACLR with a hamstring autograft using an outside-in technique. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 72 patients who underwent anatomic ACLR with a quadruple hamstring graft and an outside-in technique were selected for this prospective study. Patients were reviewed at a minimum follow-up of 15 years. Results were compared with the same series of patients previously reviewed at 5 years after surgery. Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Tegner scores as well as KT-1000 arthrometer measurements were obtained at final follow-up. Comparative weightbearing radiographs were obtained and analyzed according to the Fairbank, Kellgren-Lawrence, and IKDC classifications and used for the tunnel evaluation. RESULTS: No significant difference was detected on the subjective evaluation. Objectively, patients categorized as A or B according to the IKDC score were not significantly different at 5 and 15 years (P < .01). A KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side manual maximum difference >5 mm, a pivot shift >2+, any giving-way episode, and ACL revision surgery were considered as failures, and these were noted in 6 patients at 5 years and 6 patients at 15 years. The radiological evaluation at 15 years showed a higher rate of osteoarthritis in 2 of 3 radiological scales used in the study compared with results at 5-year follow-up (P < .01). At 15-year follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction in the mean tibial tunnel diameter (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic single-bundle ACLR using hamstring grafts and an outside-in technique demonstrated good results at 15-year follow-up in terms of subjective, objective, and radiographic evaluations. As compared with 5-year follow-up, clinical results remained stable both subjectively and objectively. However, a progression of osteoarthritis changes was observed, especially in patients in whom meniscectomy had been performed.