Reconstruction of old anterior cruciate ligament injuries: No difference between the Kennedy LAD-method and traditional patellar tendon graft in a prospective randomized study of 40 patients with 4-year follow-up

Abstract

In a prospective randomized study we investigated 40 patients with functional instability due to old anterior cruciate ligament tears by using two different techniques for reconstruction of the ligament. 20 patients were randomized to reconstruction with use of a traditional medial bone-patellar tendon graft and 20 patients to a half-thickness patellar tendon graft augmented with the Kennedy Ligament Augmentation Device (LAD). At follow-up after 4 years, both groups were still improved concerning function scores and arthrometry. The use of the Kennedy LAD method, however, gave no more subjective or objective benefits than did the traditional method.