ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analysis clinical results after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction between bioabsorbable interference screw fixation and metallic interference screw fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the results of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft between two groups, of which group 1 is used metallic interference screw, group 2 is used bioabsorbable interference screw. All of 53 patients underwent arthroscopic patellar tendon auto-grafts with one incision technique. A minimum 12 months follow-up is available on 31 patients in group 1 and 22 patients in group 2. The average age was 28.4 years(19 to 47 years) in group 1 and 29.7 years(18 to 55 years) in group 2. The average period, from trauma to operation, was 20.7 months in group 1 and 24.6 months in group 2. The average follow-up period was 24.1 months in group 1 and 13.1 months in group 2. In terms of the results of pivot shift test, Lachman test, anterior drawer test, Lysholm score, Arthrometer(KT-2000), Cybex test, simlpe X-ray and MRI findings of group 1 compared with group 2. RESULTS: At the final follow-up, KT-2000 test showed that average maximum manual side-to-side dif-ference(STSD) was 2.7mm for group 1 and 2.7mm for group 2. Average muscle power of injured quadri-ceps muscle compared with normal leg by Cybex test was average 82% for group 1 and 79% for group 2. Lysholm score was average 90 for group 1 and 89 for group 2. 3 cases of group 1 and 2 cases of group 2 were showed instability in physical examination, but there were no evidence of synovitis of knee joint or rerupture of anterior cruciate ligament in the follow-up MRI. CONCLUSIONS: No statistical difference was found between the bioabsorbable interference screw fixation group and the metallic interference screw fixation group. Short-term data support that bioabsorbable interference screw is a reasonable alternative to metallic interference screw.