Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using fixed suspensory device versus adjustable suspensory device for femoral side graft fixation: What are the outcomes?

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction using Fixed suspensory device and Adjustable suspensory device for femoral side graft fixation.

Material and methods: We conducted a prospective study of sixty two patients with ACL deficient knees treated with arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Consecutively patients were operated with fixed loop and adjustable loop suspensory devices for femoral side graft fixation and no randomization was done.

Results: Functional assessment was performed with VAS score, IKDC score and Lyshom score before and after surgery with ACL reconstruction. The postoperative Lyshom score in fixed loop group and adjustable loop group was 94.23 and 94.32 respectively. The IKDC score in fixed group and adjustable group was 92.03 and 92.16 respectively. VAS in fixed loop group improved from score of 5-3, while in adjustable loop group from score of 4-3. There was significant improvement in stability of knee assessed by Lachman's test, anterior drawer test, and Pivot shiff's test and both methods of fixation provide stability to knee. The complications included; restriction of terminal flexion in 12 patients: 6 in each group. There was no implant breakage in both groups.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using fixed loop and adjustable loop suspensory devices are equally effective fixation methods.