Abstract
Background
Despite a number of studies comparing postoperative stability and function after anatomic double-bundle and single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), it remains unclear whether double-bundle reconstruction improves stability or function.
Questions/purposes
We therefore asked whether patients having single- and double-bundle ACLR using semitendinosus (ST) alone differed with regard to (1) postoperative stability; (2) ROM; and (3) five functional scores.
Methods
We prospectively followed 60 patients with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Thirty patients underwent single-bundle and 30 patients underwent double-bundle ACL reconstruction. Clinically we assessed stability and range of motion (ROM); anteroposterior stability was assessed by Rolimeter and rotational stability by a pivot shift test. Function was assessed by IKDC, Noyes, Lysholm, Marx, and Tegner activity scales. The minimum followup was 36 months (mean, 46.2 months; range, 36–60 months).
Results
Residual anteroposterior laxity at 3 years postoperatively was similar in both groups: 1.4 ± 0.3 mm versus 1.4 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. We observed no difference in the pivot shift test. ROM was similar in both groups, although double-bundle patients required more physical therapy sessions to gain full ROM. IKDC, Noyes, Lysholm, Marx, and Tegner scores were similar at final followup.
Conclusion
Double-bundle reconstruction of the ACL did not improve function or stability compared with single-bundle reconstruction.
Level of Evidence
Level II, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adachi N, Ochi M, Uchio Y, Iwasa J, Kuriwaka M, Ito Y. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: single- versus double-bundle multistranded hamstring tendons. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004;86:515–520.
Amis AA, Dawkins GP. Functional anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament. Fibre bundle actions related to ligament replacements and injuries. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1991;73:260–267.
Balasch H, Schiller M, Friebel H, Hoffmann F. Evaluation of anterior knee joint instability with the Rolimeter. A test in comparison with manual assessment and measuring with the KT-1000 arthrometer. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1999;7:204–208.
Calvisi V, Lupparelli S, Rinonapoli G, Padua R. Single-bundle versus double bundle arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: what does the available evidence suggest? J Orthop Traumatol. 2007;8:95–100.
Chen CH, Chuang TY, Wang KC, Chen WJ, Shih CH. Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadriceps tendon autograft: clinical outcome in 4–7 years. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14:1077–1085.
Crawford C, Nyland J, Landes S, Jackson R, Chang HC, Nawab A, Caborn DN. Anatomic double bundle ACL reconstruction: a literature review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007;15:946–964.
Freedman KB, D’Amato MJ, Nedeff DD, Kaz A, Bach BR Jr. Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a metaanalysis comparing patellar tendon and hamstring tendon autografts. Am J Sports Med. 2003;31:2–11.
Fu FH, Karlsson J. A long journey to be anatomic. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010;18:1151–1153.
Gadikota HR, Seon JK, Kozanek M, Oh LS, Gill TJ, Montgomery KD, Li G. Biomechanical comparison of single-tunnel-double-bundle and single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37:962–969.
Ganko A, Engebretsen L, Ozer H. The Rolimeter: a new arthrometer compared with the KT-1000. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2000;8:36–39.
Girgis FG, Marshall JL, Monajem A. The cruciate ligaments of the knee joint. Anatomical, functional and experimental analysis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1975;106:216–231.
Gobbi A. Single versus double hamstring tendon harvest for ACL reconstruction. Sports Med Arthrosc. 2010;18:15–19.
Gobbi A, Domzalski M, Pascual J. Comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in male and female athletes using the patellar tendon and hamstring autografts. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2004;12:534–539.
Gobbi A, Domzalski M, Pascual J, Zanazzo M. Hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: is it necessary to sacrifice the gracilis? Arthroscopy. 2005;21:275–280.
Gobbi A, Francisco R. Factors affecting return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon and hamstring graft: a prospective clinical investigation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14:1021–1028.
Gobbi A, Mahajan S, Tuy B, Panuncialman I. Hamstring graft tibial fixation: biomechanical properties of different linkage systems. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2002;10:330–334.
Gobbi A, Mahajan S, Zanazzo M, Tuy B. Patellar tendon versus quadrupled bone-semitendinosus anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective clinical investigation in athletes. Arthroscopy. 2003;19:592–601.
Harner CD, Poehling GG. Double bundle or double trouble? Arthroscopy. 2004;20:1013–1014.
Irrgang JJ, Anderson AF, Boland AL, et al.: Development and validation of the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form. Am J Sports Med 2001;29:600–613.
Kanaya A, Ochi M, Deie M, Adachi N, Nishimori M, Nakamae A. Intraoperative evaluation of anteroposterior and rotational stabilities in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: lower femoral tunnel placed single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2009;17:907–913.
Kondo E, Merican AM, Yasuda K, Amis AA. Biomechanical comparisons of knee stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between 2 clinically available transtibial procedures: anatomic double bundle versus single bundle. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38:1349–1358.
Lane C, Warren R, Pearle A. D. The pivot shift. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008;16:679–688.
Lewis PB, Parameswaran AD, Rue JP, Bach BR Jr. Systematic review of single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcomes: a baseline assessment for consideration of double-bundle techniques. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36:2028–2036.
Longo UG, King JB, Denaro V, Maffulli N. Double-bundle arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: does the evidence add up? J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2008;90:995–999.
Lysholm J, Gillquist J. Evaluation of knee ligament surgery results with special emphasis on use of a scoring scale. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10:150–154.
Mae T, Shino K, Matsumoto N, Nakata K, Nakamura N, Iwahashi T. Force sharing between two grafts in the anatomical two-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14:505–509.
Mae T, Shino K, Miyama T, Shinjo H, Ochi T, Yoshikawa H, Fujie H. Single- versus two-femoral socket anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction technique: biomechanical analysis using a robotic simulator. Arthroscopy. 2001;17:708–716.
Markolf KL, Jackson SR, McAllister DR. A comparison of 11 o’clock versus oblique femoral tunnels in the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knee: knee kinematics during a simulated pivot test. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38:912–917.
Marx RG, Stump TJ, Jones EC, Wickiewicz TL, Warren RF. Development and evaluation of an activity rating scale for disorders of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 2001;29:213–218.
Meredick RB, Vance KJ, Appleby D, Lubowitz JH. Outcome of single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: a meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36:1414–1421.
Nakamura N, Horibe S, Sasaki S, Kitaguchi T, Tagami M, Mitsuoka T, Toritsuka Y, Hamada M, Shino K. Evaluation of active knee flexion and hamstring strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendons. Arthroscopy. 2002;18:598–602.
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Vanderbilt University, United States. Prognosis and Predictors of ACL Reconstruction—A Multicenter Cohort Study. Available at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00463099. Accessed March 1, 2011.
Noyes FR, Barber SD, Mooar LA. A rationale for assessing sports activity levels and limitations in knee disorders. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;246:238–249.
Park SJ, Jung YB, Jung HJ, Jung HJ, Shin HK, Kim E, Song KS, Kim GS, Cheon HY, Kim S. Outcome of arthroscopic single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: a preliminary 2-year prospective study. Arthroscopy. 2010;26:630–636.
Prodromos C, Brown C, Fu FH, Georgoulis A, Gobbi A, Howell S, Johnson D, Paulos L, Shelbourne K. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Basic Science. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier Publications; 2008:551–614.
Radford WJ, Amis AA. Biomechanics of a double prosthetic ligament in the anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1990;72:1038–1043.
Reinhardt KR, Hetsroni I, Marx RG. Graft selection for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a level I systematic review comparing failure rates and functional outcomes. Orthop Clin North Am. 2010;41:249–262.
Shen W, Jordan S, Fu F. Review article: anatomic double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2007;15:216–221.
Shino K, Nakata K, Nakamura N, Toritsuka Y, Horibe S, Nakagawa S, Suzuki T. Rectangular tunnel double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft to mimic natural fiber arrangement. Arthroscopy. 2008;24:1178–1183.
Siebold R, Cafaltzis K. Differentiation between intraoperative and postoperative bone tunnel widening and communication in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective study. Arthroscopy. 2010;26:1066–1073.
Siebold R, Dehler C, Ellert T. Prospective randomized comparison of double-bundle versus single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2008;24:137–145.
Siebold R, Webster KE, Feller JA, Sutherland AG, Elliott J. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in females: a comparison of hamstring tendon and patellar tendon autografts. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14:1070–1076.
Song EK, Oh LS, Gill TJ, Li G, Gadikota HR, Seon JK. Prospective comparative study of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the double-bundle and single-bundle techniques. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37:1705–1711.
Tegner Y, Lysholm J. Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985;198:43–49.
Torg JS, Conrad W, Kalen V. Clinical diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament instability in the athlete. Am J Sports Med. 1976;4:84–93.
Van Eck CF, Lesniak BP, Schreiber VM, Fu FH. Anatomic single- and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction flowchart. Arthroscopy. 2010;26:258–268.
Van Eck CF, Schreiber VM, Mejia HA, Samuelsson K, van Dijk CN, Karlsson J, Fu FH. ‘Anatomic’ anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review of surgical techniques and reporting of surgical data. Arthroscopy. 2010;26(Suppl):S2–12.
Wright RW. Knee injury outcomes measures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009;17:31–39.
Yagi M, Wong EK, Kanamori A, Debski RE, Fu FH, Woo SL. Biomechanical analysis of an anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2002;30:660–666.
Yasuda K, Kondo E, Ichiyama H, Kitamura N, Tanabe Y, Tohyama H, Minami A. Anatomic reconstruction of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament using hamstring tendon grafts. Arthroscopy. 2004;20:1015–1025.
Zelle BA, Brucker PU, Feng MT, Fu FH. Anatomical double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Sports Med. 2006;36:99–108.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr Celeste Scotti for evaluating all patients preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. We also thank Dr Somanna Malchira for his help in preparing the manuscript. We also thank Andrea Primo, professional statistician, for statistical analysis of our study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.
About this article
Cite this article
Gobbi, A., Mahajan, V., Karnatzikos, G. et al. Single- versus Double-bundle ACL Reconstruction: Is There Any Difference in Stability and Function at 3-year Followup?. Clin Orthop Relat Res 470, 824–834 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1940-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1940-9