Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the functional results using two different types of reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Material and methods: A retrospective comparison of 34 patients operated with a fascia lata graft and 26 patients operated with a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. The patients were evaluated twice with a postoperative Lysholm score, a preoperative and postoperative Tegner score, and a postoperative knee-laxity test.
Results: The Lysholm scores after the first (P = 0.07) and second (P = 0.29) postoperative control showed no difference between the two groups. There was no difference between the preoperative and postoperative Tegner scores of the two groups (P = 0.42). A total of 27 patients out of 60 practiced sports or had knee-straining work postoperatively at the same level as preoperatively. No difference was found between the two groups when comparing the knee-laxity tests (P = 0.12).
Discussion: This study did not find any difference in the final functional results when comparing the two operation techniques. Almost half of the patients can expect a return to sports at a preinjury level.