No differences in objective knee laxity measurements or patient-reported outcome measures between fixed- and adjustable-loop suspensory fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: 1-year results from the GAP study, a prospective, double-blinded

Study Summary

164 patients with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee were randomized to undergo hamstring autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with fixed-loop femoral suspensory fixation or adjustable-loop femoral suspensory fixation. The primary outcome was objective anterior knee laxity measured using a GNRB (Genourob, Laval, France) arthrometer. Secondary outcomes included relative side-to-side knee laxity, the Tegner Activity Scale, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, graft failure, and return to activity. Outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Overall, the results revealed no significant differences between fixation methods in absolute or relative knee laxity or any patient-reported outcome. These findings suggest that fixed- and adjustable-loop devices provide equivalent short-term fixation following hamstring autograft ACLR.