Findings from a study published online in The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggest that hamstring tendon graft combined with anterolateral ligament reconstruction (HT+ALL) may offer reduced failure rates compared to bone–patellar tendon–bone (B-PT-B) graft or quadrupled hamstring tendon (4HT) graft for patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. 

The research team conducted a prospective, cohort study of 502 patients (mean age 22.4 years). At mean 38.4-month follow-up, they found that graft rupture rates were 4.13 percent for HT+ALL grafts, 10.77 percent for 4HT grafts, and 16.77 percent for B-PT-B grafts. Other prognosticators of graft failure included age ≤25 years and a preoperative side-to-side laxity >7 mm. The research team noted that HT+ALL graft was also associated with increased likelihood of returning to preinjury levels of sport compared to 4HT graft, but not B-PT-B graft. Learn more...