Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a single hamstring tendon graft and tape locking screw (TLS) fixation leads to good clinical outcome in two years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND

There are many fixation methods for hamstring tendon autograft available for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The intention of this study was to report clinical follow-up data of the Tape Locking Screw (TLS) reconstruction technique.

HYPOTHESIS

Does TLS method give good long term results in patient satisfaction and in clinical knee tests.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We selected 119 prospectively collected patients with a two-year follow-up who had an ACL reconstruction using TLS technique. A total of 114 cases were available for follow-up two years postoperatively. The evaluation methods were instrumented laxity measurements, clinical examination and knee scores.

RESULTS

The Lysholm and IKDC scores improved from preoperative 76 and 50 to 95 and 90, respectively. Tegner activity level before surgery was 3 and improved to 6 at 2 years postoperatively.

DISCUSSION

ACL reconstruction with TLS technique showed good objective outcome at the 2-year follow-up. We confirmed improvement in all evaluation method variables.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case series; level of evidence, 4.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN registry, study ID ISRCTN34011837. Registered retrospectively April 29, 2020.