Patellar tendon autografts are not suitable for multibundle ACL reconstruction, a procedure that reportedly enhances postoperative
knee stability. Biomechanical studies recommend lateral placement of the femoral tunnel for single-bundle reconstruction to
improve postoperative knee kinematics. We asked whether a lateralized single-bundle patellar tendon graft (LSBP) would provide
good short-term results of ACL reconstruction comparable to double-bundle hamstring tendon grafts (DBH). We prospectively
followed 144 patients with unilateral ACL rupture treated with either LSBP or DBH in a nonrandomized fashion. Twenty-four
female and 31 male patients with LSBP and 44 female and 26 male patients with DBH were followed for a minimum of 24 months
(average, 38 months; range, 24–56 months). The patients with LSBP recovered knee extension better at 1 month compared with
the patients with DBH, but extension was similar after 3 months. We observed no differences in the side-to-side difference
of KT1000™ measurement, pivot shift test, or anterior drawer test between LSBP and DBH. Although better recovery of hamstring
strength in LSBP and better recovery of quadriceps strength in DBH were observed in the early postoperative period, these
differences disappeared after 12 months. There was no difference in International Knee Documentation Committee objective evaluation
between LSBP and DBH at the final followup.
Level of Evidence: Level II, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest,
patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Each author certifies that his institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent was obtained for participation
in this study.