Comparison Of Long-term Clinical Outcomes After Single-bundle And Double-bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Purpose: To compare the long-term clinical outcomes of double-bundle(DB)anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)reconstruction using allografts or autografts with single-bundle(SB)-ACL reconstruction using allografts.Methods: From January 2005 to December 2009,ninety-two patients with complete ACL rupture were prospectively randomized to undergo ACL reconstruction via the DB technique with autografts(DB-AU group,n=25),DB technique with allografts(DB-AL group,n=28),or SB technique with allografts(SB group,n=39).Patients were evaluated at 3 months,1 and 10 years postoperatively regarding the Lysholm score,IKDC score,range of motion,stability and radiography at 10 years.Results: The arthrometric results were better in the DB-AU and DB-AL groups than the SB group at 1 years,but were similar in all groups at 3 months and 10 years.The pivot shift test results were better in the DB-AL and DB-AU groups than the SB group at 3 months and 1 years,but were similar in all groups at 10 years.There were no significant intergroup differences in the Lysholm and IKDC scores at any timepoint.At 10 years,osteoarthritic changes were detected in 38.9% of the SB group,38.9% of the DB-AU group,and 40% of the DB-AL group.The range of motion of the SB group was worse than that of the DB-AU and DB-AL groups at 3 months,but was similar in all groups at 10 years.There were no significant intergroup differences in femoral or tibial tunnel expansion at final follow-up.Conclusion: DB-ACL reconstruction using autografts or allografts results in similar rotational stability,osteoarthritic changes,and tunnel expansion at 10 years postoperatively as SB-ACL reconstruction.