Similar revision rates after ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon or bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts in young females: Results from the Swedish knee ligament registry

PURPOSE: To compare subjective knee function and revision rates at the 5-year follow-up in young females (14-25 years) undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with either hamstring tendon (HT) or bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts in a nationwide registry-based cohort. METHODS: . Patients who underwent revision ACLR within 5 years of primary surgery were identified through the SKLR. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare preoperative and post-operative KOOS subscale scores between the graft groups, whereas a Cox regression analysis was performed to compare the 5-year hazard of revision ACLR. RESULTS: at 1-year was significantly higher in the HT group compared with the BPTB group (39.5% vs. 33.0%; p = 0.028); however, no differences were observed at the 2- or 5-year follow-up. No differences were observed between the groups in TF outcomes at 1-, 2- or 5-year follow-up. The 5-year revision rates were 7.0% for HT and 7.5% for BPTB groups, with no significant difference in the hazard of revision ACLR between the groups (hazard ratio = 1.05, 95% confidence interval = 0.75-1.49; p = n.s.). CONCLUSION: Similar 5-year revision rates were observed between HT and BPTB autografts in young females. HT autografts were associated with higher subjective knee function scores than BPTB autografts, although the clinical relevance of this difference is uncertain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.