No difference in ACL revision rates between hamstring and patellar tendon autograft in patients with ACL-R and a concurrent meniscal injury irrespective of meniscal treatment.

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to compare (1) the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision and (2) subjective knee function using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) between isolated ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) and ACL-R and concurrent meniscal injury, based on graft selection and meniscal treatment.

METHODS

Data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry were extracted in November 2022 for patients who underwent primary ACL-R. Patients were divided into two main groups based on graft choice: hamstring tendon (HT) or patellar tendon (PT) autograft, with four meniscal sub-groups: no injury, resection, repair or left in situ. The primary outcome was the rate of ACL revision within 5 years of primary ACL-R, and the secondary outcome was subjective knee function measured with the mean KOOS subscale scores and the rate of patients achieving a patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) at the 1-, 2- and 5-year follow-up.

RESULTS

The analysis of ACL revision was performed on 45,656 patients, and 7639 patients for the analysis of subjective knee function. The overall rate of ACL revision was 2.4% and 4.9% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. There were no differences in the rate of ACL revision within 5 years of primary surgery irrespective of graft choice or meniscal injury treatment. Patients with ACL-R and concurrent meniscal resection or meniscal injury left in situ achieved a PASS at the 1 (∆ = -11.3% to -29.5%), 2 (∆ = -12.7% to -40.3%) and 5-year (∆ = -12.0% to -30.6%) follow-up to a greater extent when receiving HT autograft compared to PT autograft.

CONCLUSION

Graft selection was not associated with ACL revision in patients with ACL-R and concurrent meniscal injury, regardless of meniscal injury treatment. Superior subjective knee function was reported by patients who underwent ACL-R with HT autograft compared with PT autograft where the injured meniscus was resected or left in situ.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.