ACL reconstruction with irradiated versus non-irradiated deep-frozen bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft: a prospective randomized clinical study / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of irradiated versus non-irradiated deepfrozen bone-patellar tendon-bone (B-PF-B) ullograft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods A total of 66 patients undergoing arthroecopic ACL reconstruction were prospectively random-ized consecutively into two groups, ie, Group A ( irradiated deep-frozen allograft, n = 34) and Group B ( non-irradiated deep-frozen allograft, n = 32). All ACL reconstructions were done by the same senior surgeon with the same arthroscopic technique. Before and after surgery, the clinical results were compared in aspects of general conditions, range of motion ( ROM), Pivot shift test, Lachman and Anterior Drawer Test (ADT), Daniel's one-leg hop and Harner's vertical jump tests, overall international knee docu-mentation committee (IKDC) rating and KT-2000 arthrometer testing. Results Of all, 63 patients in-eluding 32 patients in Group A and 31 in Group B were available for a follow-up of average 38 months ( mean 38.3 months in Group A and mean 37.7 months in Group B) and three lost follow-up. There was one patient with late septic infection. While there was no statistical difference in aspects of general condi-tions including hospital stay, duration of fever and complications ( P > 0. 05 ), but there was a trend that the patients in Group A had a longer postoperative duration of fever ( mean 8.9 days ) than Group B (mean 7.8 days). Physical examinations showed no statistical difference upon ROM in both groups ( P > 0. 05), while there was statistical difference between Lachman test and ADT ( P < 0.05 ). The positive Pivot shift test was found in 12 patients in Group A and 3 in Group B, with statistical difference ( P < 0. 05 ). KT-2000 testing showed a side-to-side difference of less than 3 mm in 26 patients in Group B and only 8 in Group A, and a side-to-side difference of more than 5 mm in two patients in Group B and 12 in Group A, with statistical difference (P < 0.05 ). The anterior and rotational stability was decreased sig-nificantly in Group A. No statistical difference was found between two groups in overall IKDC rating, Daniel' s one-leg hop and Harner' s vertical jump tests ( P > 0.05 ). However, the function and IKDC score tended to decrease in Group A. Conclusion The short term clinical outcomes of the ACL reconstruction with irradiated B-PT-B allograft are adversely affected and unsatisfactory, indicating a cautious use.