Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Ali Golchini ¹
• Naser Behpoor ²
• Shahram Ahanjan ³
• Morteza Saeb ⁴
• Saeed Soleimani ⁵

¹ MSc in Sport Injury & Corrective Exercise, Kermanshah, Iran

² Asisstant Professor, Kermanshah University of Razi, Kermanshah, Iran

³ Asisstant Professor, Department of Sport Injury & Corrective Exercise, Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Asisstant Professor, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

⁵ PhD in Physioterapy, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common knee injuries sustained by professional athletes in sports. Choosing the best graft for ACL-deficient athletes is of graet importance. To date, Patellar and hamstring tendons have been the most common grafts used ACL reconstruction. The aim of present study was to determine the effects of the particular grafts, namely HTG and BPTBG, on performance, balance and returning to sport events.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 38 athletes with ACL rupture were studied gradually. 19 athletes with patellar tendon graft (BPTBG) and 19 athletes with 4-layer hamstring grafts (HTG) underwent reconstruction. An accelerated rehabilitation program designed and provided to both groups. At the end of the 3rd, 6th, and 9th months, such variables and tests as anterior knee pain, range of motion (ROM), Lysholm Scale, single leg hop test, one repetition maximum (1RM), star excursion test, knee laxity, and the level of return to competitions were evaluated. Repeated measure ANOVA and t test used for statistical analysis of data. The significance level was set at 0.05.Results: At the end of the 6th and 9th months, anterior knee pain in BPTBG groups was significantly more than HTG group. Kneeling for BPTBG group was associated with more severe pain and swelling at the end of 9th month (P < 0/05). Extension of BPTBG group was higher than HTG group and vice versa was true for flexion. HTG group's anterior knee laxity was higher than BPTBG group but the difference was not significant. In single leg hop and balance tests, BPTBG group had a weaker performance. HTG group's Lysholm scale scores were significantly better than the BPTBG group. HTG group returned to a higher level of competition.Conclusion: Study results showed that use of hamstring grafts would have fewer side effects and safer and faster return to the initial level of exercise and hence, a suitable graft for ACL reconstruction.Keywords: ACL, Reconstructed ACL, Performance, Patellar tendon graft, Hamstring graft