[A prospective comparison of double- and single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions]

A nonrandomized clinical study was performed to compare the clinical and radiological outcome between double-bundle and single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions with semitendinosus tendon in athletes.

We examined 70 patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury. They were followed up for a mean of 24 months. Each group of 35 patients underwent either double- or single-bundle ACL reconstruction. The mean age of the patients was 24.7 years (range, 18-35 years). There were no differences between two groups regarding age at surgery, sex, follow-up period, period before surgery, combined meniscus injuries, athletic activity level, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores. All patients followed the same postoperative program. They were evaluated using manual knee laxity tests, knee extension and flexion strength testing. General knee condition was evaluated by the IKDC and Tegner scores.

The results were excellent and good in 32 (91.4%) patients after double-bundle ACL reconstruction and in 30 (85.7%) patients after single-bundle ACL reconstruction, evaluating by IKDC system. However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups regarding all IKDC-categorized data (P=0.87). The average scores of Tegner activity in double-bundle and single-bundle groups were 8.0 and 8.1, respectively.

This trial showed no significant difference between the double and single-bundle ACL repairs.