Background. The purpose of the study is to compare clinical outcomes and return to sport between transtibial and anteromedial portal techniques for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction by using single bundle hamstrings grafts secured with variable suspensory fixation device.
Methods. Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction were chosen randomly in the period between January 2016 and July 2016. A total of 20 patients met the criteria required to be included in the case study and ultimately grouped by different surgery approaches: 10 transtibial cohort (TT), 10 anteromedial portal cohort (AM). Outcomes were assessed with KT-1000, KSS, KOOS, Tegner-Lysholm scores and Tegner Activity Level scale. Criteria developed by Illingworth et al. were used in the radiological evaluation of bone tunnel placement as a reference to assure quality standards.
Results. There was no significant difference in postoperative KT-1000 measurements between the 2 cohorts. A significant improvement in all scores was observed in both cohort. There was a significant difference between the AM group and the TT group in terms of anatomical placement of the femoral tunnels and grafts (p < 0.001).
Conclusion. In terms of clinical and functional outcomes, there was no difference between the two groups in the long-term period, except for the time to return sports, which was 6.8 and 7.9 months in the AM and TT groups, respectively.
