Similarities in the kinematics of autografts and hybrid grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Minimum 2 years of follow-up

Objective

To compare the clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with autografts and that with hybrid grafts of the same diameter.

Methods

This study retrospectively included 102 patients who underwent ACLR from August 2017 to July 2019. According to graft type, the patients were divided into an autograft group (58 patients) and a hybrid graft group (44 patients). All grafts were 8.0 mm in diameter. The failure rate, knee kinematics with 6 degrees of freedom (DOFs), signal/noise quotient (SNQ), the Lachman test, pivot-shift test, Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score were compared in each group after a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Results

There was no significant difference in the failure rate between the autograft group (1.72%) and the hybrid graft group (2.27%) (P > 0.999). The SNQ values of the autograft group (16.42 ± 5.29 and 18.52 ± 5.30) at the middle and proximal sites were lower than those of the hybrid graft group (12.13 ± 5.62 and 16.35 ± 4.64; P = 0.020 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the autograft group, the results of range of motion at 6 DOFs and tibiofemoral kinematics at 5 DOFs (except internal-external rotation) were similar to those of the hybrid graft group (P > 0.05). The Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, IKDC score, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test showed no differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Autograft in ACLR has better graft maturity than hybrid grafts, but their kinematic characteristics are similar.

Clinical trial registration

ChiCTR2000037869.