OBJECTIVETo compare the outcome of arthroscopic single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with six-strand hamstring tendon and patellar tendon allograft.

METHODSFrom October 2006 to December 2009, 108 patients with arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed, with 58 patients with six-strand hamstring tendon (Group H), and 50 patients with patellar tendon allograft (Group P). Patients were available for clinical evaluation with KT-1000 arthrometer measurements, Lachman and pivot-shift test, and knee function with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm scores.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up at an average of 28.6 months (range 12 - 38 months). The average side-to-side difference was lesser for group H (1.2 ± 1.2) mm than group P (1.8 ± 1.5) mm (P < 0.05). On the pivot-shift test, 55 (94.8%) patients were negative and 3 (5.2%) were positive in group H, whereas 41 (82.0%) were negative and 9 (18.0%) were positive in group P, with significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). All knee function scores were improved postoperatively, without statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with six-strand hamstring tendon will achieve better knee stability than patellar tendon allograft.