Comparison of the Outcomes on Second-Look Arthroscopy after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using a Hamstring Autograft or a Tibialis Anterior Allograft

Kim, Myung Ho; Yoo, Moon Jib; Park, Hee Gon; Yoo, Hyun Yul; Lee, Dae Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
We wanted to evaluate the status and changes of the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft by performing second-look arthroscopy after arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL with a hamstring autograft or a tibialis allograft.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From June 2003 to February 2007, second look arthroscopy was performed on 58 cases and a hamstring autograft was used in 36 cases and a tibialis allograft was used in 22 cases. Second-look arthroscopy was conducted at an average of 19.1 (12~42) months after reconstruction. We measured the graft tension using displacement by probing and the synovial coverage by visual analysis at the time of second-look arthroscopy. The Lysholm score, the Lachman test and a KT-2000 arthrometer were used to evaluate the status of the reconstructed ACL.
RESULTS
The hamstring tendon autograft group showed normal tension in 25 cases, lax tension in 7 cases and partial tear in 4 cases. The tibialis anterior allograft group showed normal tension in 12 cases, lax tension in 5 cases and partial tear in 5 cases. In the hamstring tendon autograft group, the synovial coverage was good in 23 cases, there was half coverage in 8 cases and it was pale in 5 cases. In the tibialis anterior allograft group, the synovial coverage was good in 10 cases, there was half in 7 cases and it was pale in 5 cases. There were no significant differences between the two groups on the clinical examination, but on second look arthroscopy, the synovial coverage was better in the hamstring tendon autograft group than that for the tibialis anterior allograft group.
CONCLUSION
The hamstring autograft group had superior synovial coverage compared to that of the other group on second look arthroscopy. But there were no significant difference of the clinical outcomes between the groups.