Long-term Comparison of Semitendinosus and Gracilis Tendon Versus Patellar Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 17-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1800-1808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matjaz Sajovic ◽  
Domen Stropnik ◽  
Katja Skaza

Background: Short-term and mid-term differences between hamstring and patellar tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are well documented. Systematic reviews highlight the lack of long-term results between the two grafts. Hypothesis: Seventeen years after ACL reconstruction, no difference will be found in functional outcome, quality of life, and graft failure between patients with patellar tendon (PT) or semitendinosus and gracilis tendon (STG) autografts; however, a significant difference will be seen in the prevalence of osteoarthritis. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Sixty-four patients were included in this prospective study (32 in each group). A single surgeon performed primary ACL reconstruction in alternating sequence. Forty-eight patients (24 in each group) were evaluated 17 years after ACL reconstruction: A clinical assessment was made based on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, instrumented laxity was measured with KT-1000 arthrometer, and radiography of the operated knee was conducted and assessed for degenerative disease. The Lysholm questionnaire and the Short Form–36 version 2 questionnaire were filled out by the patients. Results: At the 17-year follow-up, no statistically significant differences were seen with respect to graft failure (2 reruptures in the semitendinosus and gracilis tendon [STG] group [6.3%] and 3 reruptures in the PT group [9.4%]) and functional outcome. Increased instrumented laxity (>3 mm) measured with KT-1000 arthrometer was seen in significantly more patients in the STG group (8 in the STG group compared with 2 in the PT group; P = .03) with a mean side-to-side difference of 2.17 ± 1.86 mm in the STG group compared with 1.33 ± 1.93 mm in the PT group. A significant difference was found in frequency of knee osteoarthritis (OA)—100% in the PT group compared with 71% in the STG group ( P = .004). Patients in the PT group tended to have higher grade OA according to the IKDC grading system, with an average grade of 1.46 in the PT group compared with 1 in the STG group ( P = .055). The degenerative changes in the PT group were more common in the medial and patellofemoral compartments ( P = .003 and P = .04, respectively). Conclusion: Both autografts provided good to excellent subjective outcomes. No significant differences were noted in graft failure and clinical instability. However, significantly more patients in the STG group had increased instrumented anteroposterior translation measured with KT-1000 arthrometer, and there was a greater prevalence of knee OA at 17 years after surgery in the PT group.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0007
Author(s):  
Crystal Perkins ◽  
Michael Busch ◽  
Melissa Christino ◽  
Belinda Schaafsma ◽  
S. Clifton Willimon

Background: Graft selection for skeletally mature adolescents undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is guided by surgeon and patient preference. In young patients returning to high-risk cutting and pivoting sports, graft rupture is the most feared complication of ACL reconstruction. Some studies have demonstrated slightly lower rates of graft failure and decreased laxity in the short term associated with patellar tendon (BTB) autografts as compared to hamstring (HS) autografts, but these studies are limited by their heterogeneity of ages and activity level1-3. The purpose of this study is to compare the rates of graft failure between BTB and HS ACL reconstruction cohorts matched by age, sex, and sport. Methods: A single-institution retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients less than 19 years of age treated with ACL reconstructions using either patellar tendon (BTB) or hamstring (HS) autograft performed by a single surgeon. Skeletally mature or nearly mature patients in “high-risk” ACL injury sports (basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and gymnastics) were initially treated with hamstring autografts but the graft preference transitioned to BTB autografts as the preferred graft choice during the study period. This transition in graft preference for adolescents participating in “high risk” sports allows for a comparison of outcomes based on graft types. Inclusion criteria were ages 13 – 18 years, participation in a “high risk” sport, and minimum 6-month follow-up. The two cohorts of patients were matched by age, gender, and sport. The primary outcome measure was graft rupture. Results: One hundred fifty-two patients with an average age of 16 years (range 13 – 18 years) underwent ACL reconstruction during the study period. There were 71 BTB reconstructions and 81 HS reconstructions. There were 64 females and 88 males. There was no difference in age, sex, BMI, or laterality between groups. There were more patients who played soccer in the BTB cohort (44%) vs HS cohort (20%) and fewer who played basketball in the BTB cohort (24%) vs HS cohort (41%), p = 0.005. There were no differences between the BTB and HS cohorts in terms of meniscus tears (61% v 72%, p = 0.15), meniscus repair (21% v 32%, p = 0.13), or partial meniscectomy (32% v 33%, p = 0.90). Mean duration of follow-up was 28 months (range 7-57 months). There was no difference in follow-up between cohorts (BTB 28 months and HS 29 months, p = 0.19). There were a total of 16 graft ruptures (10.5%). There was no difference in the rate of graft rupture between cohorts (BTB 8.5% vs HS 12.3%, p = 0.60). Mean time to graft rupture was 21 months (range 8 – 35 months) and Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated no difference between cohorts. Conclusions: ACL reconstruction in adolescents returning to high-risk sports can be performed utilizing BTB or HS autografts with similar rates of graft rupture. There is a trend toward lower rates of graft rupture associated with BTB autografts, but additional patients will be necessary to determine if this trend will become a statistically significant difference. Beynnon BD, Johnson RJ, Fleming BC, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament replacement: comparison of bone-patellar tendon bone grafts with two-strand hamstring grafts. A prospective, randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2002;84(9):1503-1513. Ho B, Edmonds EW, Chambers HG et al. Risk factors for early ACL reconstruction failure in pediatric and adolescent patients: a review of 561 cases. J Pediatr Orthop 2016. Samuelsen BT, Webster KE, Johnson NR, et al. Hamstring autograft versus patellar tendon autograft for ACL reconstruction: is there a difference in graft failure rate? A meta-analysis of 47,613 patients. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2017;475(10):2459-2468.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Hua-qiang Fan ◽  
Wenli Dai ◽  
Hong-Da Li ◽  
Yang-pan Fu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We investigate the safety of the application of the Rigidfix cross-pin system via different tibial tunnels in the tibial fixation during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods Five adult fresh cadaver knees were fixed with the Rigidfix cross-pins in the tibial fixation site during ACL reconstruction. Two different tibial tunnel groups were established: in group A, the tunnel external aperture was placed at the 25° angle of coronal section; in group B, the tunnel external aperture was placed at the 45° angle of coronal section. The guide was placed at the plane 0.5 mm below articular facet through the tibial tunnel, with three rotation positions set at 0°, 30°, and 60° slopes. The incidences of iatrogenic injuries at tibial plateau cartilage (TPC), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and patellar tendon in three different slope angles were calculated in groups A and B and the results were analyzed by using chi square test. Results The iatrogenic injuries at MCL, TPC, and patellar tendon could occur after the Rigidfix cross-pin system was placed 5 mm below tibial plateau cartilage for ACL reconstruction. The incidences of TPC injury (χ2 = 5.662, P = 0.017) and MCL injury (P = 0.048, Fisher exact probability method) were significantly lower in group A than in group B. However, the incidence of patellar tendon injury showed no significant difference between these two groups (χ2 = 0.120, P = 0.729). Conclusions When the Rigidfix cross-pin system is used for ACL reconstruction at the tibial fixation site, the external aperture of tibial tunnel should not be placed at the excessively posterosuperior site, to avoid MCL and TPC injuries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1069-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Porter ◽  
Bruce Shadbolt

Background: The indications for the addition of anterolateral soft tissue augmentation to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and its effectiveness remain uncertain. Purpose: To determine if modified iliotibial band tenodesis (MITBT) can improve clinical outcomes and reduce the recurrence of ACL ruptures when added to ACL reconstruction in patients with a residual pivot shift. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients with a primary ACL rupture satisfying the following inclusion criteria were enrolled: first ACL rupture, involved in pivoting sports, skeletally mature, no meniscal repair performed, and residual pivot shift relative to the contralateral uninjured knee immediately after ACL reconstruction. Patients were randomized to group A (no further surgery) or group B (MITBT added) and were followed up for 2 years. The patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures used were the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale of sport/recreation (Sport/Rec), KOOS subscale of quality of life (QoL), Lysholm knee score (LKS), Tegner activity scale (TAS), recurrent ACL ruptures, or need for further surgery in either knee. Analysis of variance was used to compare PROs; the Wilcoxon test was used for the TAS; and the chi-square test was used for recurrence of ACL ruptures, meniscal injuries, and contralateral ACL ruptures ( P < .05). Results: A total of 55 patients were randomized: 27 to group A (female:male ratio = 15:12; mean age, 22.3 ± 3.7 years) and 28 to group B (female:male ratio = 17:11; mean age, 21.8 ± 4.1 years). At 2-year follow-up, group A had a similar IKDC score (90.9 ± 10.7 vs 94.2 ± 11.2; respectively; P = .21), lower KOOS Sport/Rec score (91.5 ± 6.4 vs 95.3 ± 4.4, respectively; P = .02), similar KOOS QoL score (92.0 ± 4.8 vs 95.1 ± 4.3, respectively; P = .14), lower LKS score (92.5 ± 4.8 vs 96.8 ± 8.0, respectively; P = .004), lower TAS score (median, 7 [range, 7-9] vs 8 [range, 8-10], respectively; P = .03), higher rate of recurrence (14.8% vs 0.0%, respectively; P < .001), similar rate of meniscal tears (14.8% vs 3.6%, respectively; P = .14), and similar rate of contralateral ACL ruptures (3.7% vs 3.6%, respectively; P = .99) relative to group B. Conclusion: The augmentation of ACL reconstruction with MITBT reduced the risk of recurrent ACL ruptures in knees with a residual pivot shift after ACL reconstruction and improved KOOS Sport/Rec, LKS, and TAS scores. Registration: ACTRN12618001043224 (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry)


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (08) ◽  
pp. 770-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Heng Sharon Tan ◽  
Bernard Puang Huh Lau ◽  
Lingaraj Krishna

AbstractThe current review aims to compare the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the female population after patellar–tendon–bone and hamstring grafts. The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All original randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that compared clinical outcomes after female ACL reconstruction using hamstring versus patellar–tendon–bone grafts were included. All clinical outcomes reported by three or more studies were included. Fifteen publications, with 948 female patients, were included. Most outcomes were reported to have no significant graft differences by all studies that reported the outcome. These included all the outcomes for objective knee scores (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] objective knee score), neuromuscular testing (quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, and single hop test), graft rupture or failure, and subjective knee scores (Lysholm score and IKDC subjective knee score). The pivot shift test, flexion deficit, and presence of crepitus were also reported to have no significant graft differences by all studies. Some studies reported a significant difference in anteroposterior laxity (Lachman's test and instrumented laxity), range of motion deficits (extension deficit), and sports and activity level (Tegner score). However, these statistically significant differences were noted to be clinically insignificant due to the normal population variation or standard error of measurement of these tools of evaluation. Patients reconstructed with patellar-tendon–bone grafts have a higher risk of kneeling pain. There was no significant difference in the incidence of crepitus. Most of the outcomes following female ACL reconstructions showed no clinically and statistically significant difference when either patellar–tendon–bone or hamstring autograft was used. These included outcomes for anteroposterior laxity, objective knee scores, neuromuscular testing, graft rupture or failure, subjective knee scores, sports and activity level, and crepitus. This a level II study.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2_suppl2) ◽  
pp. 2325967117S0004
Author(s):  
Georgios Nikolaos Tzoanos ◽  
Nikolaos Tsavalas ◽  
Nikolaos Manidakis ◽  
Alkiviadis Kalliakmanis

Introduction: To investigate the healing process of the harvested patellar tendon at 12±2 and 24±2 months following Bone-Patellar-Bone (BTB) Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: 30 football players were enrolled in our study and examined at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively. Donor and contralateral tendons evaluated with a high frequency ultrasound transducer. The maximum anteroposterior (MAP) and maximum transverse (MT) diameters of the patellar tendon and associated defect at the site of the tendon incision measured at its proximal, middle and distal thirds. The presence of vascular flow was examined with Doppler imaging. Echogenicity of the patellar tendon defect was graded as low, mixed or normal compared to the contralateral tendon. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean MAP and MT diameters of the donor tendons at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively (P>0.05). The mean MAP and MT diameters of the patellar tendon defect at 24±2 months were significantly smaller compared to 12±2 months postoperatively (P<0.01). The mean MAP diameter of the harvested tendon was significantly greater at all measured sites in comparison to the contralateral tendon at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean MT diameters of the donor and healthy tendons at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively (P>0.05). At 12±2 months, the mean MAP diameter of the patellar tendon defect was 4.0±2.1 mm, 4.7±2.8 mm and 4.1±2.4 mm at the proximal, middle and distal third of the tendon respectively. The mean MT diameter of the defect was 3.3±2.2 mm (proximal third), 2.9±1.6 mm (middle third) and 2.1±0.9 mm (distal third). 2 of tendon defects showed low echogenicity, 6 mixed echogenicity, 2 patients normal echogenicity. At 24±2 months the mean MAP diameter of the patellar tendon defect was 0.3±0.3 mm, 0.4±0.4 mm and 0.3±0.3 mm at the proximal, middle and distal third of the tendon respectively. The mean MT diameter of the defect was 0.3±0.3 mm (proximal third), 0.2±0.2 mm (middle third) and 0.2±0.2 mm (distal third). 27 of patients demonstrated normal echogenicity, 1 low echogenicity, while 2 mixed echogenicity. No tendon exhibited any signs of neovascularization at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Patellar tendons after BTB ACL reconstruction were characterized by increased thickness at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively. Solid healing were evident in 2 patients by 12±2 months and in 27 by 24±2 months. No inflammatory changes were observed at 12±2 and 24±2 months postoperatively. [Figure: see text][Figure: see text]


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2543-2549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Rousseau ◽  
Charlotte Labruyere ◽  
Charles Kajetanek ◽  
Olivia Deschamps ◽  
Konstantinos G. Makridis ◽  
...  

Background: Complications and adverse events after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are well known, but they have been underestimated in previous studies. Purpose: To describe the complications and adverse events after ACL reconstruction within a 2-year follow-up and analyze them in relation to the type of graft. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: From 2000 to 2012, 958 patients with an isolated ACL injury underwent surgery by a single knee surgeon. ACL reconstruction was performed with the medial portal technique for the femoral tunnel and the use of bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) or hamstring tendon graft. Patients were reviewed at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery with the International Knee Documentation Committee score, plain radiographs, and the KT-1000 arthrometer. Results: Of 958 patients enrolled, 147 (15%) were lost at last follow-up. The 2 groups (bone–patellar tendon–bone [n = 257] and hamstring [n = 554]) were similar regarding the mean age at the time of surgery and preoperative anterior laxity. The main complications were as follows: anterior knee pain (n = 130 of 811, 16%), stiffness (n = 72, 8.8%), secondary meniscal lesions (n = 59, 7.2%), pain attributed to fixation (n = 79, 9.7%), ACL rerupture (n = 47, 5.7%), contralateral ACL ruptures (n = 24, 3%), patellar fractures (n = 3, 0.3%), infections (n = 9, 1%), and thromboembolic complications (n = 5, 0.6%). There was no significant difference between the grafts with respect to the frequency of joint stiffness, secondary meniscal lesions, or anterior knee pain. During the first 2 postoperative years, the percentage of patients with anterior knee pain was higher in the patellar tendon group (23.3% vs 12.6%, P < .001); however, this difference was not significant after the 2-year interval (3.1% vs 2.5%, P = .63). The percentage of patients with a rerupture of the graft was significantly lower in the patellar tendon group than in the hamstring group (25 of 811 [3.1%] vs 57 of 811 [7%], P = .023). Similar results were recorded regarding the pain related to the hardware material (7 of 811 [0.8%] in the BPTB group vs 113 of 811 [13.9%] in the hamstring group, P = .001). The percentage of ACL ruptures contralateral to the repair was higher in the patellar tendon group (41 of 811 [5%] vs 17 of 811 [2%], P = .016). Conclusion: The total rate of complications after an ACL reconstruction was 39%, and the surgical revision rate for any reason was 28%. Problems with the hardware material were more frequent in the hamstring group, leading to an increased rate of surgical revision. Anterior knee pain was initially higher in the patellar tendon group, but there was no significant difference in a 2-year interval. The rerupture rate was statistically higher in the hamstring group.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596711880771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander L. Lazarides ◽  
Eduard Alentorn-Geli ◽  
Emily N. Vinson ◽  
Thomas W. Hash ◽  
Kristian Samuelsson ◽  
...  

Background: Revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can be potentially devastating for a patient. As such, it is important to identify prognostic factors that place patients at an increased risk for graft failure. There are no data on the effects of patellar tendinopathy on failure of ACL reconstruction when using a bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autograft. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of patellar tendinopathy with the risk of graft failure in primary ACL reconstruction when using a BPTB autograft. The hypothesis was that patellar tendinopathy would result in higher rates of graft failure when using a BPTB autograft for primary ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients undergoing ACL reconstruction at a single institution from 2005 to 2015 were examined. A total of 168 patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction with a BPTB autograft were identified. Patients’ magnetic resonance imaging scans were reviewed for the presence and grade of patellar tendinopathy by 2 musculoskeletal fellowship–trained radiologists; both were blinded to the aim of the study, patient demographics, surgical details, and outcomes. Patients were divided into 2 groups: failure (defined as presence of symptomatic laxity or graft insufficiency) and success of the ACL graft. Statistical analyses were run to examine the association of patellar tendinopathy with failure of ACL reconstruction using a BPTB autograft. Results: At a mean follow-up of 18 months, there were 7 (4.2%) patients with graft failure. Moderate or severe patellar tendinopathy was associated with ACL graft failure ( P = .011). Age, sex, and side of reconstruction were not associated with the risk of graft failure, although the majority of patients who failed were younger than 20 years. The use of patellar tendons with moderate to severe tendinopathy was associated with a relative risk of ruptures of 6.1 (95% CI, 1.37-27.34) as compared with autograft tendons without tendinopathy. Conclusion: Moderate or severe patellar tendinopathy significantly increases the risk of graft failure when using a BPTB autograft for primary ACL reconstruction. Patellar tendinopathy should be considered when determining the optimal graft choice for patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction with autograft tendons.


Author(s):  
S. Vijayan ◽  
H. Kyalakond ◽  
M. S. Kulkarni ◽  
M. N. Aroor ◽  
S. Shetty ◽  
...  

AbstractArthroscopic ACL reconstruction is the current standard care of treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Modified transtibial (mTT) and anteromedial portal (AMP) techniques aim at the anatomical placement of femoral tunnel. Controversy existed in the literature with regard to the outcome of these techniques. Hence, we designed a retrospective comparative study to analyse the clinical and functional outcomes of mTT and AMP techniques. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between the clinical and functional outcomes in mTT and AMP techniques. This retrospective observational study was conducted in consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using semitendinosus-gracilis (STG) quadrupled graft in our tertiary care centre with a minimum follow-up of two years. Out of 69 patients, 37 had undergone ACL reconstruction by mTT technique and remaining by AMP technique. All the patients were assessed clinically by anterior drawer, Lachman’s, pivot shift and single-legged hop test. Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee evaluation score were used for the functional status. Knee instability was assessed objectively by KT-1000 arthrometer. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline demographic characteristics between mTT and AMP groups. At the end of 2 years, no statistically significant difference was noted in the anterior drawer and Lachman’s test. Though not significant, IKDC scores and Lysholm’s scores showed a better outcome in the AMP group when compared to the mTT group. AMP group showed significantly better outcome with KT-1000 arthrometer. Based on the results obtained, we presume that overall both mTT and AMP have similar functional outcome. However, as AMP technique offers significantly improved subjective rotational stability on pivot shift test, better hop limb symmetry index and KT 1000 readings compared to mTT, we suggest AMP over mTT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 232596712110148
Author(s):  
Katrin Karpinski ◽  
Martin Häner ◽  
Sebastian Bierke ◽  
Theresa Diermeier ◽  
Wolf Petersen

Background: The choice of graft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is still under discussion. The hamstrings are currently the most used grafts for primary ACL reconstruction in Europe. However, increased interest has arisen in the quadriceps tendon (QT) as an alternative autologous graft option for primary ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To evaluate knee stability and the subjective outcome after ACL reconstruction using either autologous QT graft in implant-free femoral press-fit fixation technique or semitendinosus tendon (ST) graft. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: We evaluated 50 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, including 25 patients who received autologous ipsilateral QT graft (QT group) and 25 patients who received the ipsilateral ST graft (ST group). The follow-up for this prospective comparative study was at least 2 years after surgery, comprising KT-1000 arthrometer testing, pivot-shift test, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm score, and rerupture rate. Results: The mean patient age was 31.72 years (9 women, 16 men) in the QT group and 32.08 years (13 women, 12 men) in the ST group. The mean ± standard deviation postoperative side-to-side difference assessed using KT-1000 arthrometer was 1.56 ± 1.56 mm for the QT group and 1.64 ± 1.41 mm for the ST group, with no significant difference. No significant difference was found on any of the KOOS subscale scores ( P = .694) or the Lysholm score ( P = .682). No rerupture or positive pivot-shift test occurred during follow-up. No difference was found in donor-site morbidity between the study groups. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes were not significantly different between QT and ST grafts in the current study. Thus, the QT may serve as a good alternative graft for primary ACL reconstruction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-293
Author(s):  
Dragana Dragičević-Cvjetković ◽  
Tatjana Erceg-Rukavina ◽  
Siniša Nikolić

Background/Aim: Proprioception recovery is one of the main postoperative rehabilitation goals after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The aim of this study was to examine the level of proprioception recovery in patients 9 months after the ACL reconstruction using hamstring graft. Methods: A prospective study followed 70 male subjects (mean age 27.36 ± 5.94) divided into two groups depending on the type of proprioceptive exercise applied. Group A patients (n = 35) underwent proprioceptive training on a Biodex 4 Pro System isokinetic dynamometer for 10 minutes 5 times per week. In group B, patients underwent proprioception exercises in the gym for 10 minutes 5 times per week. The degree of recovery of proprioception was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer preoperatively and 9 months after ACL reconstruction. Flexion angles in the operated knee of 15, 30 and 45 degrees were monitored. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analyses. The value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A significant difference was found in the recovery of proprioception in patients depending on the type of training applied. Statistically significant recovery of proprioception was observed in patients from both groups 9 months after ACL reconstruction, but it was better in patients of group A (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Applying proprioceptive training on an isokinetic dynamometer achieves better proprioceptive recovery in patients 9 months after ACL reconstruction versus dynamic exercises in the gym.


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