Effect of Initial Graft Tension on Knee Osteoarthritis Outcomes After ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled...

The graft tension applied during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft fixation (subsequently referred to as initial graft tension) could potentiate posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and influence other outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of initial graft tension on imaging and patient-reported outcomes related to PTOA 15 years postreconstruction surgery. Clinical and functional outcomes were also assessed. It was hypothesized that (1) the high-tension group would have improved imaging findings and outcomes compared with the low-tension group at 15-year follow-up and (2) the imaging findings and outcomes for the high-tension group would be equivalent to the sex-, race-, age-, and activity level matched control group.

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Consented patients underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with bone-patellar tendon-bone or a 4-strand hamstring tendon autograft. A matched uninjured control group was assembled for comparison. Two laxity-based tensioning procedures were randomized: (1) tension set to restore normal anteroposterior (AP) laxity at time of surgery relative to the contralateral uninjured knee (low-tension group) or (2) tension set to overconstrain AP laxity at time of surgery relative to the contralateral knee (high-tension group). Baseline outcome measures, radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were collected prior to surgery and at 15 years postoperatively.

For medial joint space width, the differences between limbs across the 3 groups were not significant. Within the tension groups, the Whole Organ MRI Score was significantly higher in the surgical knee relative to the contralateral knee in both groups, while the Osteoarthritis Research Society International radiographic scores were higher in the surgical knee in the low-tension group only. A total of 43% of patients in both tension groups met the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score composite criteria for a symptomatic knee compared with controls (10%; P = .01). Most other outcomes, including AP laxity, International Knee Documentation Committee knee examination score, and single-leg hop test were not significantly different between the 3 groups.

The results do not support the hypotheses that patients in the high-tension group would have better chondroprotection compared with the low-tension group and have equivalent outcomes with the matched controls. Overall, the results show that patients undergoing ACLR are more likely to develop PTOA and display inferior outcomes compared with the uninjured matched control group, regardless of graft tension.