OBJECTIVETo retrospectively evaluate the early results of anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and compare with the results of native ACL of the contralateral knee.

METHODSThe results of a consecutive series of 118 patients receiving arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were evaluated. Eight patients were lost to the latest follow-up, leaving a total of 110 patients available for study within at least 3 years'clinical follow-up. Among them, 63 patients underwent postoperative MRI and CT scan, as well as clinical evaluation.

RESULTSAfter reconstruction, the knees were stable and pain-free. Mean postoperative Lysholm score was 95.54 in 110 patients after 3 years. CT and MRI assessment showed that the reconstruction centered in the femoral footprint of ACL (n equal to 63). The sagittal ACL angle in the reconstructed ACL (52.16 degree+/-2.45 degree was much close to that in the contralateral intact ACL (51.31 degree +/-2.18 degree, P larger than 0.05). By ACL-Blumensaat line angle analysis, there was no difference between double-bundle reconstructed knees and their contralateral normal knees (4.67 degree+/-0.43 degree vs. 4.62 degree+/-0.60degree, P larger than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction can place grafts more precisely in the anatomic footprint of the ACL and better restore knee kinematics.