Patellar bone defect grafting does not reduce anterior knee pain after bone-patellar tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: Donor site morbidity is the main drawback to using bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) as a graft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The objective of the study was to determine whether refilling the patellar bone defect after BPTB harvesting with autograft bone decreased kneeling pain to a greater degree when compared with a group in which bone defect is left unaddressed.

Methods: This is a randomised single-blinded controlled study. Forty patients were randomised into two groups; group 1: Patellar bone defect filled with autologous bone; group 2: Bone defect left undressed. Pain was measured by means of pressure algometry (PA). Functional outcomes were measured with the Kujala and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done to measure bone buildup between groups at the 1-year follow-up.

Results: No differences were observed in the different algometry measurements and the scores were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The ratio of void filled remained consistently higher (p = 0.003) in group 1 when compared to group 2.

Conclusions: Although refilling the lower pole of the patella with autologous bone from the harvested BPTB autograft loads the bone defect, it does not reduce pain at the donor site 1 year after surgery.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic study level 1.