OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) construction with different transplants.

METHODSFrom March 2006 to April 2009, 86 patients including 60 male and 26 female undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were prospectively randomized consecutively into autograft group (44 patients, using autogeneic hamstring tendons) and allograft group (42 patients, using allogenic lower extremity tendons). The age of those patients were 22 - 56 years, averaging (32 ± 7) years. The operations were made by the same doctor with the standard technology. The postoperative effects were assessed by the range of motion and tibia forward distance, Lachman test, pivot shift test, Daniel test, IKDC scores systems, Lysholm-Tegner scores.

RESULTSSeventy-nine patients were followed up, 41 patients in autograft groups averaged 39.6 months and 38 patients in allograft group averaged 37.4 months. The operation time of autograft group was (87 ± 11) minutes, that of allograft group was (55 ± 10) minutes (t = 15.732, P < 0.05). The time of postoperative fever of autograft group was (3.2 ± 1.4) days, that of allograft groups was (7.6 ± 5.3) days (t = 5.740, P < 0.05). The Lysholm scores of autograft group was 42 ± 7 before operation, and 89 ± 8 at final follow-up. The Lysholm scores of allograft group was 44 ± 6 before operation, and 87 ± 9 at final follow-up. There was statistic difference in both groups between before operation and final follow-up (t = 13.534 and 17.768, P < 0.05).But no statistic difference existed between the two groups (P > 0.05). The Tegner scores of autograft group was 2.9 ± 2.1 before operation, and 7.7 ± 1.2 at final follow-up. The Tegner scores of allograft group was 2.7 ± 1.4 before operation, and 7.1 ± 1.6 at final follow-up. There was statistic difference in both groups between before operation and final follow-up (t = 16.004 and 12.338, P < 0.05).No statistic difference existed between the two groups (P > 0.05). The KT2000 results showed that the anterior displacement of autograft groups was (10.7 ± 3.5) mm before operation and (5.0 ± 2.7) mm at final follow-up, the anterior displacement of allograft groups was (10.9 ± 2.9) mm before operation and (6.5 ± 2.4) mm at final follow-up, there was statistic difference between before and after operation in anterior displacement in two groups (t = 16.354 and 13.296 P < 0.05). There was no difference between two groups before operation and at final follow-up. Compared to before operation, the IKDC scores were improved greatly after operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of arthroscopic ACL construction with allograft transplants is near to autograft.