Knee Stability Evaluation Following Double-Bundle Versus Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a first choice treatment for ACL-deficient knees, and arthroscopic single-bundle reconstruction has been widely accepted around the world in this regard. Although, such single-bundle reconstructions result in sufficient knee stability in most cases, but some patients have not been satisfied with postsurgical results in both short-term and long term clinical studies. One of the reasons for these unsatisfactory results could be related to the fact that normal function of the native ACL has not been restored by the traditional ACL reconstruction which uses only a single-bundle graft. The natural ACL consists of a 3-dimensional structure with multibundle fascicles, which can be anatomically divided into 2 main bundles, the anteromedial (AM) and the posterolateral (PL) bundles named for the orientation of their tibial insertions. The purpose of the present study was to compare double-bundle and single-bundle ACL reconstruction.Methods: Twenty-two patients with anterior cruciate ligament tear who were candidates for ACL reconstruction were enrolled in the study undertaken in Shariati Hospital from 2009 to 2010. Fourteen patients underwent single-bundle and 8 patients double-bundle ACL reconstruction. The patients were evaluated by arthrometer and physical examination in postoperation follow up visit at least 9 months after the operations.Results: Four out of 14 patients with single-bundle reconstruction had knee joint translation greater than 5 mm but nobody had knee translation more than 5 mm in the double-bundle reconstruction group.Conclusion: Double-bundle ACL reconstruction seems to be more stable than single-bundle ACL reconstruction.