Comparison of Bone-patellar Tendon-bone and Patellar Tendon-bone Grafts in ACL Reconstruction

Summary

The purpose of this randomized study is to compare donor site morbidity and clinical and functional outcomes of both surgery techniques (bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft versus bone-patellar tendon without patellar bone plug (PT) graft) for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does PT graft reduce donor site morbidity compared to the standard BPTB graft?
* Does PT technique provide clinical and functional results comparable to the BPTB technique? Researchers will compare the incidence of complications and clinical and functional outcomes between the BPTB and PT grafts groups.

Patients will:

* Undergo ACLR surgical intervention using one of the two assigned techniques (BPTB or PT)
* Follow a two-year assessment program, including visits at three, eight, 12 and 24 months after surgery.

Conditions

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Bone-Patellar tendon-Bone

After an arthroscopic examination via an anterolateral viewing portal to confirm the ACL injury, two additional portals will be established: an accessory medial portal slightly above the joint line (approximately 2cm from the medial border of the patellar tendon) and a high anteromedial portal. Once associated lesions are addressed, the graft is harvested through a 6cm longitudinal midline incision. Following paratenon dissection, the patellar tendon dimensions are measured: * Minimum length: 42mm * Width-based harvesting: if the tendon width is \<30mm, a graft consisting of one-third of the total width is harvested. If the width exceeds 30mm, a 10mm wide graft is obtained. * Bone plugs: patellar and tibial bone plugs (10x20x8mm) are harvested. While the graft is prepared, anatomic tunnels are created. The graft is secured with MectaScrew (MEDACTA) interference screws. Once fixed, an extra-articular tenodesis is performed using Arnold \& Coker technique.

PROCEDURE

Patellar tendon-Bone

After an arthroscopic examination via an anterolateral viewing portal to confirm the ACL injury, two additional portals will be established: an accessory medial portal slightly above the joint line (approximately 2cm from the medial border of the patellar tendon) and a high anteromedial portal. Once associated lesions are addressed, the graft is harvested through a 6cm longitudinal midline incision. Following paratenon dissection, the patellar tendon dimensions are measured: * Minimum length: 42mm * Width-based harvesting: if the tendon width is \<30mm, a graft consisting of one-third of the total width is harvested. If the width exceeds 30mm, a 10mm wide graft is obtained. * Bone plugs: a tibial bone plug (10x20x8mm) is harvested. While the graft is prepared, anatomic tunnels are created. The graft is secured with MectaScrew (MEDACTA) interference screws. Once fixed, an extra-articular tenodesis is performed using Arnold \& Coker technique.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Granada

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Manuel Arroyo-Morales · Universidad de Granada

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-01

Primary Completion

2027-03-31

Completion

2028-03-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations