Summary

Bone-Patellar-Tendon-Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Does Not Cause Functional Anterior Knee Pain

Abstract

Introduction

Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is the most frequently used technique. However, BPTB has been associated with 25-60% incidence of anterior knee pain.

Objective

To determine the incidence of functional knee pain after BPTB ACL reconstruction.

Methods

Institutional Review Board approved retrospective review of all patients undergoing BPTB ACL reconstructions from March 2013 through May 2017. Patient demographics were obtained. Patients were assessed for pain on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), presence/absence of anterior knee pain, and knee range of motion. Data were collected for a minimum of 1-year follow-up.

Results

& Discussion:
A total of 130 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. Anterior knee pain was highest at the 6-month interval, with an incidence of 10%; however, at 1-year it was 5.4%. Ten patients had anterior knee pain at 6-months, however only 1 still reported it at 1-year. No patients (0/130) reported anterior knee pain that limited their function or ability to return to sport/activity. VAS pain scores were noted to decrease from 2.3 at 2-weeks post-operative to 0.3 at 1-year. Total flexion/extension arc of the knee was noted to improve from 86° at 2-weeks to 143° at 1-year.

Conclusion

This is the first study to report ACL reconstruction with BPTB graft does not cause functional anterior knee pain, as all patients in this study were not limited in return to sport or activity at 1-year post-operatively.