OUTCOMES OF ACL RECONSTRUCTION USING QUADRICEPS TENDON AUTOGRAFT
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Current literature supports the use of the quadriceps tendon (QT) as a strong autograft with favorable clinical outcomes in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Objective: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament rupture managed with quadriceps tendon autograft. Materials and methods: A prospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 35 patients who underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadriceps tendon autograft at Can Tho Central General Hospital from May 2025 to February 2026. Results: The mean Lysholm score was 86.32 points (30–95), with 85.71% of patients achieving excellent or good results, 14.29% fair, and 0% % poor outcomes. According to the IKDC grading system, 5 patients were classified as 17 grade A, 13 as grade B, 3 as grade C, and 2 as grade D. At 6 months postoperatively, 94,84% of patients regained quadriceps muscle strength comparable to the contralateral limb. Conclusion: The quadriceps tendon is a safe and effective graft option for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Keywords
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, quadriceps tendon autograft
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
2. White T. Quadriceps, hamstring and patella tendon autografts for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction demonstrate similar clinical outcomes, including graft failure, joint laxity and complications: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2026. 34(5),1631-1646, doi:10.1002/ksa.12755.
3. Martin-Alguacil JL, Arroyo-Morales M, Martín-Gomez JL, Monje-Cabrera IM, AbellánGuillén JF, Esparza-Ros F, et al. Strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadriceps tendon versus hamstring tendon autografts in soccer players: a randomized controlled trial. Knee. 2018. 25(4), 704-714, doi:10.1016/j.knee.2018.03.011.
4. Lind M. Quadriceps tendon grafts does not cause patients to have inferior subjective outcome after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction than do hamstring grafts: a 2-year prospective randomised controlled trial. Br J Sports Med. 2020. 54(3), 183-187, doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-101000.
5. Ebert JR. A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Quadriceps Versus Hamstring Tendon Autograft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2024. 52(3), 660-669, doi:10.1177/03635465231222279.
6. Vilchez-Cavazos F. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries treated with quadriceps tendon autograft versus hamstring autograft: A randomized controlled trial. Lesiones de ligamento cruzado anterior tratadas con autoinjerto de tendón de cuádriceps versus autoinjerto de isquiotibiales: estudio controlado aleatorizado. Cir Cir. 2020. 88(1), 76-81, doi:10.24875/CIRU.19001001.
7. Barié A. Quadriceps tendon vs. patellar tendon autograft for ACL reconstruction using a hardware-free press-fit fixation technique: comparable stability, function and return-to-sport level but less donor site morbidity in athletes after 10 years. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2020. 140(10),1465-1474, doi:10.1007/s00402-020-03508-1.
8. Deysel G. Assessing quadriceps strength in patellofemoral pain patients: A study on the reliability and validity of a low-cost strain-gauge for clinical practice. PLoS One. 2024. 19(5), e0298570, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0298570.
9. Horstmann H. Quadriceps and hamstring tendon autografts in ACL reconstruction yield comparably good results in a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022. 142(2), 281-289, doi:10.1007/s00402-021-03862-8.
10. Lund B, Nielsen T, Faunø P, Christiansen SE, Lind M. Is quadriceps tendon a better graft choice than patellar tendon? A prospective randomized study. Arthroscopy. 2014. 30(5), 593-598, doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2014.01.012.