The QT autograft detected comparable rate of Lachman test > 3 mm , Pivot shift test > 3 m and instrumental laxity > 3 mm .
The QT autograft showed a lower rate of autograft failure above all .
The QT autograft detected the reduced rate of AKP than the PT .
Quadriceps tendon autograft may represent a feasible option for primary ACL reconstruction .
The purpose of the current study was to clarify the role of the quadriceps tendon ( QT ) autograft for primary ACL reconstruction .
Thus , a Bayesian network meta- analysis comparing patients undergoing a primary ACL reconstruction with QT versus patellar tendon ( PT ) and hamstring tendon ( HT ) autografts  was conducted .
[Hamstring versus quadriceps tendon graft in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction].
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of this prospect i ve study was to evaluate functional outcomes and knee joint stability after  double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using three-tunnel quadriceps tendon-bone graft and four-tunnel hamstring graft ( semi-tendinosus and gracilis muscles ) . MATERIAL Group 1 included 20 patients undergoing reconstruction with quadriceps tendon- bone graft group ; 2 comprised of 20 patients treated by hamstring graft . There were 26 men and 14 women , with an average age of 27 ( range , 16 to 44 ) years . The minimum follow-up period was one year . METHODS In group 1 patients , semi-anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed by a three-tunnel technique ( two tunnels in the femur and one in the tibia ) using quadriceps femoris muscle graft . Group 2 patients were treated by anatomic four-tunnel reconstruction ( two tunnels in the femur and two in the tibia ) with the use of hamstring graft . Functional outcomes were evaluated on the basis of Lysholm and IKDC scores . Antero-posterior stability was measured with aKT-1000 arthrometer and rotational stability was assessed by the pivot-shift test . For statistical evaluation , the level of significance ( p ) was set at < 0.05 . RESULTS The final evaluation showed an average Lysholm score of 88.9 ± 12 ( 76 - 100 ) points for group 1 , and 87.9 ± 11 ( 62 - 100 ) points for group 2 ; there was no statistically significant difference . The rounded average result of the functional IKDC score after surgery was the same in the two groups ( 80 ± 10 ) . The joints treated by the three-tunnel technique had on average better antero-posterior stability , but this was not statistically significant . The pivot-shift phenomenon was not seen in either of the groups . Operative times in both groups were comparable . An intra-operative fracture of the patella occurred in two patients of group 1 . DISCUSSION No similar prospect i ve study comparing the outcomes of the methods reported here has been found in the internatio- nal literature . The studies so far published have not included any such comparison or they compared other techniques , such as single- versus double-bundle reconstructions . CONCLUSIONS Based on Lysholm and IKDC score evaluation and antero-posterior and rotational stability assessment , it can be concluded that both the three- and the four-tunnel technique of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction gave similar results , with no significant differences , at one-year follow-up . However , these are only short-term results and only a long-term follow-up can prove or disprove the validity of this conclusion
The QT autograft detected comparable rate of Lachman test > 3 mm , Pivot shift test > 3 m and instrumental laxity > 3 mm .
The QT autograft showed a lower rate of autograft failure above all .
The QT autograft detected the reduced rate of AKP than the PT .
Quadriceps tendon autograft may represent a feasible option for primary ACL reconstruction .
The purpose of the current study was to clarify the role of the quadriceps tendon ( QT ) autograft for primary ACL reconstruction .
Thus , a Bayesian network meta- analysis comparing patients undergoing a primary ACL reconstruction with QT versus patellar tendon ( PT ) and hamstring tendon ( HT ) autografts  was conducted .