A 7-Year Follow-up of Patellar Tendon and Hamstring Tendon Grafts for Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

Both hamstring and patellar tendon grafts provided good subjective outcomes and objective stability at 7 years. No significant differences in the rate of graft rupture or contralateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture were identified. Patients with patellar tendon grafts had a greater prevalence of osteoarthritis at 7 years after surgery; therefore, the authors preferred hamstring tendons as the primary graft choice in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions.