Publication:

Functional outcome following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using semitendinosus graft: a prospective observational study

Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain a common orthopaedic disease, particularly in young adults. The treatment of choice for ACL injuries is ACL reconstruction (ligamentoplasty). The present study was conducted to observe and evaluate the outcome results of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by hamstring grafts using Endobutton-CL technique for femoral fixation and Bioabsorbable Intrafix Screw technique for tibial fixation in ACL injury.

Methods This prospective comparative observational study related data were captured between January 2014 to December 2015 in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Haldia. About 36 patients with arthroscopic anatomic ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft were evaluated and followed up for functional outcome. Patients were evaluated for pain, functioning and stability of knee using validated knee scoring systems which included tegner activity scale and IKDC score.

Results Out of 36 patients 31 patients (86.11%) were male and 5 patients (13.88%) were females. About 25 patients (69.44%) had right sided ACL injury and remaining 11 patients (30.55%) had left sided ACL injury. The mean of the pre-op IKDC scoring was 42.45 with SD of 9.68 and the mean of the post-operative IKDC scoring was 81.87 with SD of 13.40, so improvement was statistically significant.

Conclusions The technique of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction offers an excellent knee function, knee stability and restoration of preoperative functional status with minimal complications.