All inside full thickness quadriceps tendon ACL reconstruction: Long term follow up results

The aim of this study is to evaluate results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) using an All-Inside Full Thickness Quadriceps Reconstruction technique at 5 years follow up.

This is a Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Inclusion criteria for this report were isolated primary ACL reconstructions without chondral lesions (Grade III/IV Outerbridge), using autologous full-thickness quadriceps tendon (FQT) graft with bone block, with an "all-inside" technique. Functional scales of Lysholm, IKDC, Tegner and objective results of side to side difference (KT1000) were used for this evaluation. Additionally, complications and comorbidities were also analyzed.

Two hundred and ninety-one ACL reconstructions were retrospectively reviewed at 5 years postoperatively; 268 (92.1%) were men and 23 (7.90%) women. Lysholm Score improved from 64 (SD = 6.09) to 91 (SD = 6.05) points average. IKDC showed 59.79%, excellent and 3.4% good results. Arthrometric analysis showed that 259 knees (89%) had a difference of less than 3 mm. Median pre-injury Tegner score was 9 (Range 4-10), while final median Tegner activity level at 5 years was 8 (Range 4-10). Among comorbidities, 5.15% of the patients presented anterior knee pain. No visualization difficulties or significant hematomas were found.

Use of all inside FQT for ACL reconstruction in a young, high demand sports population, present at 5 years, good to excellent results, functionally and objectively, with low rates of complications and comorbidities.