Background: One of the most common grafts used to repair anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is the hamstring tendon (HT) autograft. However, another proposed option to repair the ACL is the quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft. This study aimed to compare the pain and clinical results between patients with ACL injury treated with QT autograft and with HT autograft. Materials and methods: The Ethics and Investigation Committee of our institution approved the study. The patients were randomized into two groups: one group was treated with QT autograft and the other group was treated with HT autograft. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using the Lysholm-Tegner score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, and visual analog scale (VAS), at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: A total of 28 patients with a primary ACL injury were included in the study. No significant differences in VAS pain, Lysholm knee and Tegner activity scale scores, and IKDC score between the HT and QT groups were observed at any time point. All patients had favorable outcomes and significantly improved evaluation scores. Conclusion: The patients treated with QT autograft had clinical results and post-operative pain similar to those of patients treated with HT autograft for ACL reconstruction.

Lesiones de ligamento cruzado anterior tratadas con autoinjerto de tendón de cuádriceps versus autoinjerto de isquiotibiales: estudio controlado aleatorizado

Background: Isolated ACL lesions can occur in up to 44.5% of sports patients and its association with a meniscal injury can be 30-80%. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare clinical function of the knee in patients with reconstruction of the ACL, with or without meniscal injury. Methods: This was a retrospective study during a four-year period of patients with ACL repaired injury. Inclusion criteria were indistinct gender, >18 years of age with a primary ACL repaired injury (with or without associated meniscal injury). The exclusion criterion were an associated knee injury (except meniscal injury), an associated fracture in the lower limb, previous knee surgery, reconstruction surgery, graft failure after 7 months, rheumatological or psychiatric disease. The Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were applied. The patients were divided into groups, ≤1 year and >1 year of follow-up after surgery, and in ACL injury alone or ACL plus meniscal injury. Results: A total of 126 ACL injuries were analyzed. No significant difference was observed between groups in demographic data. In the patients with meniscal injury, the medial meniscus was involved in 24 (50%) cases, and the lateral meniscus 22 (46%). No difference was observed between groups in the evaluation with the Lysholm-Tegner score, IKDC and VAS. Conclusion: Patients with isolated ACL lesions or ACL lesions plus meniscal injuries, treated with partial meniscectomy, presented a similar clinical and functional evolution even after four years of treatment.