Quadriceps- vs. semitendinosus tendon in ACL reconstruction - a prospective study comparing autologous transplants regarding their clinical outcome

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knee stability and subjective outcome after primary ACL reconstruction using either autologous semitendinosus or quadriceps tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated a total of 50 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction - including 25 using the ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon (group I) and 25 patients with autologous quadriceps tendon graft (group II). The follow-up of this prospective comparative study was at least two years after surgery, comprising clinical assessment according to the International Documantation Committee (IKDC), KT1000 arthrometer testing and an additional questionnaire including the Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the Lysholm score. RESULTS: The mean postoperative side-to-side difference assessed by KT1000 arthrometer was 1.8mm for group I and 1.7mm for group II with no statistically significant difference. There was no statistically significant difference neither in the individual KOOS subscores nor the Lysholm score. No re-rupture or positive pivot-shift test occurred during follow-up for both groups. CONCLUSION: Semitendinosus- as well as quadriceps tendon are both equal regarding their clinical outcome. Thus, the quadriceps tendon may serve as a good alternative graft for primary ACL reconstruction.