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Tunnel widening after single- versus double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized 8-year follow-up study

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the single-bundle (SB) and double-bundle (DB) surgical techniques for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with regard to tunnel widening, isokinetic muscle strength, and clinical outcomes over an 8-year follow-up period.

Methods

This study included 31 patients with ACL injury who underwent ACL reconstruction via the SB (n = 16) or the DB (n = 15) technique. Isokinetic and concentric strength measurements of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles were conducted at postoperative 6 months and postoperative 8 years, and 3D-CT scans of the knee joints were performed on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th month, and the 8th year postoperatively. Clinical evaluations were performed at 8 years postoperatively with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner, and Lysholm knee scoring systems.

Results

There was marked widening of the parts of the femoral tunnel close to the knee joint in both the SD and the DB groups. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of clinical results and isometric muscle strength at postoperative 8 years; however, there was a significant difference between the preoperative and 6 months postoperative clinical and strength results in both group (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in IKDC score, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, and anterior drawer test at postoperative 8 years. On evaluation of the anteromedial bundles alone, the DB group had greater widening than the SB group.

Conclusion

In this study, we have found that the tunnels continue to enlarge after 6 months. However, that has no impact in patients comfort and that did not made any change in our daily routine. On the other hand, we found that the reconstruction of the double-band ligament technique is useless for non-professional athletes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Research and Training Centre, Başkent University, Adana, Turkey

    S. Beyaz, Ü. Ö. Güler, B. M. Çınar & G. Özkoç

  2. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Research and Training Centre, Başkent University, Adana, Turkey

    Ş. Demir

  3. Department of Statistics, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey

    S. Yüksel

  4. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medline Hospital, Adana, Turkey

    S. Akpınar

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  1. S. Beyaz
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  2. Ü. Ö. Güler
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  3. Ş. Demir
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  4. S. Yüksel
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  5. B. M. Çınar
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  6. G. Özkoç
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  7. S. Akpınar
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Correspondence to S. Beyaz.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Başkent University Research Fund.

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All authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

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Beyaz, S., Güler, Ü.Ö., Demir, Ş. et al. Tunnel widening after single- versus double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized 8-year follow-up study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 1547–1555 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2774-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2774-z

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