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Updated: May 31, 2026
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Athymic Rat Model for Evaluation of Engineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts
Published on: March 26, 2015
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a multicenter prospective cohort study evaluating 3 different grafts using
Joan Leal-Blanquet1, Eduard Alentorn-Geli, Josep Tuneu
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital de l'Esperanca - Parc de Salut MAR, Barcelona, Spain. jleal@parcdesalutmar.cat
Summary
This study found no significant clinical outcome differences between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft, BPTB allograft, or hamstring tendon autograft. Surgeon preference can guide ACL graft selection.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries requiring surgical reconstruction.
- Graft choice for ACL reconstruction significantly impacts clinical outcomes.
- Bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft (BPTBAu), BPTB allograft (BPTBAll), and hamstring tendon autograft (HTAu) are common graft options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction using BPTBAu, BPTBAll, and HTAu.
- To evaluate graft performance with standardized bone drilling techniques.
- To determine if graft type influences knee laxity, function, and patient satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Multicenter prospective cohort study (Level II evidence).
- Patients with ACL tears underwent reconstruction with BPTBAu, BPTBAll, or HTAu.
- Minimum 24-month follow-up assessing knee laxity (KT-1000, Lachman, pivot shift), IKDC scores, pain, swelling, and strength.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed among the three graft groups.
- Slightly increased knee laxity in external rotation was noted in the BPTBAu group.
- All patients achieved Grade A or B IKDC scores, with high satisfaction (mean VAS 8.5).
Conclusions:
- The choice between BPTBAu, BPTBAll, and HTAu for ACL reconstruction can be based on surgeon preference.
- Standardized surgical techniques ensure comparable outcomes across different graft types.
- All evaluated grafts provide satisfactory results for ACL reconstruction.