Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes and differences of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by using allografts and autografts.
Methods: Fifty-three patients with grade III ACL injuries were divided randomly into 2 groups. Twenty-five cases of group A with autografts of patellar bone-tendon-bone (B-PT-B;n = 15) and 4 strands of semitendinosus/gracilis (n = 10); 28 patients of group B with allografts of B-PT-B (n = 18), 4 strands of semitendinosus/2 strands of gracilis tendons (n = 6) and double tibialis posterior (n = 4) as well as Achilles bone-tendon (n = 2). All procedures were performed endoscopically by some surgeons. All patients were followed up for 12 to 31 months, average 19 months.
Results: There were statistically significant differences revealed in physical examination. IKDC and Lysholm-Tegner Score as well as KT-2000 testing was used preoperation and postoperation for both group, but there were no significant differences between the two groups except that group B had less time in operation and longer time in postoperative fever comparing with group A. (2-sample t test, P < 0.05). The KT-2000 side to side difference less than 3 mm were 88% and 86% and more than 5 mm were 4% and 7.1% respectively. The infection rates were 0% and 3.5% for the two groups.
Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of the allografts and autografts in ACL reconstruction is almost the same. Allografts are a reasonably alternative choice for ACL reconstruction in patients over middle ages and for multiple ligament surgery as well as revision procedures.