To compare the early functional and clinical results, between single (SB) and double-bundle (DB) of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstrings (HS). Thirty-six patients from 17 to 36 years old (average age 23), 22 ♂ and 14 ♀, from January 2006 to May 2008, were randomly allocated for ACL reconstruction with HS (SB – DB). Eighteen patients underwent a 4-stranded SB reconstruction (group A) and the remaining 18 underwent an anatomic, 2-stranded DB ACL reconstruction with 2 tibial and 2 femoral tunnel technique (group B), by using the Smith &
Nephew instrumentation system. The follow-up was from 8 to 22 months (average 16 months) for both groups and included clinical evaluation (pivot-shift test, anterior laxity test with KT-1000 arthrometer and Lysholm knee score) and radiographs. There were no statistically significant difference in the results between the 2 groups with regard to the pivot-shift test and the Lysholm score (SB: mean 91, DB: mean 89) (Mann-Whitney test, T-test). The anterior laxity was not significantly different between group A (mean, 2.2mm) and group B (mean, 0.9mm), according to KT-1000 measurements. Rotational stability, as evaluated by pivot-shift test, was better in group B than in group A, but statistical analysis showed no significant difference. The average operation time was longer in DB (110 min) compared to SB (80 min). There were no infections, though one patient of each group was found to be complicated with fixed flexion and extension lag >
5°; and underwent arthroscopic lysis. Our study shows no statistically significant advantage of DB versus SB ACL reconstruction, concerning the clinical evaluations and the complications
Nine (9) procedures involved the femoral stem only, and seven (7) both components. Six (6) stems were fixed with cement and ten (10) without. In all cementless cases, fixation of the stem in the medullary canal was achieved for at least 4 cm below the osteotomy level. The length of the stem beyond the osteotomy was three times the width of the canal. The length of the osteotomy varied from 12 to 18 cm (av. 14 cm), and the length of the inserted components ranged from 210 – 280 mm (av.225 mm).