Purpose
The study was designed to compare the clinical results of traditional single-bundle
(SB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with those of double-bundle (DB)
ACL reconstruction.
Methods
This study comprised 80 patients aged 18 to 45 years with an isolated ACL lesion:
40 patients underwent SB reconstruction, and 40 patients underwent DB reconstruction.
Patients were assessed preoperatively with functional assessment including the International
Knee Documentation Committee 2000 knee subjective form and visual analog scale, as
well as physical examination (including the pivot-shift test and instrumented knee
laxity measurement). Vertical jump assessment with the Optojump system (Microgate,
Bolzano, Italy) has been introduced as a method to compare functional ability between
the 2 surgical techniques. The same protocol was repeated 6 months, 12 months, and
2 years after surgery.
Results
No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups concerning
subjective evaluation, thigh girth difference, mean visual analog scale score, range
of motion, and Lachman and anterior drawer tests (P = not significant). A statistically higher number of patients in the SB group showed
a positive pivot-shift test and a higher side-to-side difference when measured with
the KT-1000 arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) than in the DB group (P < .001). Better mean jumping performance results were reported in the DB group compared
with the SB group (P < .001). The average performance results for the injured limb were not significantly
reduced compared with those of the uninjured limb in the DB group 12 months after
surgery. At 2 years, a restoration of jumping ability in the ACL-reconstructed limb
was achieved in both groups regardless of the technique used.
Conclusions
DB ACL reconstruction has been proven to be superior to the SB technique with regard
to knee stability and vertical jump performance.
Level of Evidence
Level II, prospective comparative study.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
April 16,
2013
Received:
December 12,
2010
Footnotes
The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Single-Bundle Versus Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Assessment with Vertical Jump Test. Are the Results Really “Superior”? When Perception Does Become Reality!ArthroscopyVol. 29Issue 11
- PreviewI have read the article by Ventura et al., “Single-Bundle Versus Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Assessment with Vertical Jump Test,”1 with great interest. The information helps those of us involved in trying to understand the benefits of the double- versus single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair.
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