A study in American Journal of Sports Medicine found no difference between the effectiveness of bone-tendon-bone grafts and hamstring grafts used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
The researchers identified 12 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, six of whom received bone-tendon-bone grafts and six of whom received hamstring grafts. They analyzed patients at six weeks and one year after the procedure, using X-ray images during treadmill walking and stair descent, along with X-ray images during treadmill running at the one-year mark.
Here's what you need to know:
1. During treadmill walking, the groups showed no difference in femoral tunnel or tibial tunnel motion at either six weeks or one year.
2. During stair descent, the groups showed no difference in femoral or tibial tunnel motion at either six weeks or one year.
3. During the treadmill running evaluation taken at the one-year mark, the two groups showed no difference.