ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the therapeutic outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between small-sized and normal-sized patients using grafts of different diameters.Methods:The data of 63 patients were selected who had undergone ACL reconstruction at Department of Joint/Sports Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University from January 2018 to December 2018. They were divided into 2 groups according to body size. In the observation group of 26 small-sized patients who were shorter and lighter, there were 18 males and 8 females with an age of (29.4±8.5) years and a graft of 7.5 mm in diameter was used. In the control group of 37 normal-sized patients, there were 26 males and 11 females with an age of (28.8±8.2) years and a graft of 8.0 mm in diameter was used. The 2 groups were compared in terms of failure rate, kinematic changes in the affected knee joint (taking the 63 normal knee joints in the 2 groups as controls), isokinetic muscle strength and Lysholm knee score.Results:There was no significant difference in the general data or follow-up time between the 2 groups other than height and weight ( P>0.05), indicating comparability between the 2 groups. In the control and observation groups, the failure rates were 2.7% (1/37) and 3.8% (1/26), and the Lysholm knee scores 2 years after surgery (86.6±10.1) points and (90.2±6.9) points, respectively, showing no statistical significance ( P>0.05). The range of flexion and extension was 56.30° (51.10°, 58.10°) in the observation group, significantly smaller than that in the control group [60.15°(58.95°, 63.08°)] and that for a normal knee joint [59.00° (56.45°, 63.00°]; the internal and external displacement in the observation group [7.30 (5.30, 8.30) mm] was significantly smaller than that for a normal knee joint [9.00 (7.00, 12.00) mm]; the external rotation in the observation group [0.97°(-1.59°, 3.01°)] was significantly larger than that for a normal knee joint [-1.54°(-5.30°, 2.28°)]; the knee extension muscle strength at 60°/s in the observation group was (65%±19%), significantly smaller than that in the control group (78%±18%) (all P<0.05). Conclusion:When small-sized and normal-sized patients use a 7.5 mm graft and a 8.0 mm graft respectively in ACL reconstruction, similar therapeutic outcomes can be expected.