Graft diameter as a predictor for functional outcome following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A prospective study

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to find the effect of autologous hamstring tendon graft size on patient reported outcome (PRO) measures following Arthroscopic Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Materials and Methods: A review of prospectively collected cohort data of 90 patients who had undergone primary ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft was evaluated. Patient's age, sex, graft diameter at the time of surgery, and minimum of 2 years postoperative functional outcome were assessed using PRO measures, i.e. Tegner Lysholm Knee (TLK) Scoring Scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and International Knee Documentation Committee score. Mean of the three scores was calculated along with that of graft diameter, and Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to find the relation between graft diameter and the three-PRO measure scores independently. Two-tailed test was used to compute the statistical significance of parameter inferred from the data sheet. Results: There was a positive linear correlation between the graft diameter and three PRO measures independently; however, two-tailed tests for statistical significance were significant only for TLK Score and KOOS. Conclusion: We conclude that hamstring autograft diameter is one of the important predictor for postoperative functional outcome, and hence, a thicker diameter graft is desirable.