2017 ISAKOS Congress : Anatomic ACL reconstruction via independent tunnel drilling: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing patellar tendon and hamstring autografts

Seven publications reporting on 6 randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review comparing outcomes between hamstring tendon autografts and bone-patellar tendon-bone autografts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The study was further limited to cases completed using only an independent tunnel drilling technique. Significant differences observed in favour of hamstring tendon autografts were a lower incidence of anterior knee pain in 2/7 studies and lower incidence of degenerative changes in the knee in 3/7 studies. Significant difference observed in favour of BPTB autografts was lower knee laxity in 2/7 studies. No significant differences in graft re-rupture rate were noted in any study.