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 .
Long-term Comparison of Semitendinosus and Gracilis Tendon Versus Patellar Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 17-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Background : Short-term and mid-term differences between hamstring and patellar tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstruction are well documented . Systematic review s highlight the lack of long-term results between the two grafts . Hypothesis : Seventeen years after ACL reconstruction , no difference will be found in functional outcome , quality of life , and graft failure between patients with patellar tendon ( PT ) or semitendinosus and gracilis tendon ( STG ) autografts ;  however , a significant difference will be seen in the prevalence of osteoarthritis . Study Design : R and omized controlled trial ; Level of evidence , 2 . Methods : Sixty-four patients were included in this prospect i ve study ( 32 in each group ) . A single surgeon performed primary ACL reconstruction in alternating sequence . Forty-eight patients ( 24 in each group ) were evaluated 17 years after ACL reconstruction :  A clinical assessment was made based on the International Knee Documentation Committee ( IKDC ) form , instrumented laxity was measured with KT-1000 arthrometer , and radiography of the operated knee was conducted and assessed for degenerative disease . The Lysholm question naire and the Short Form–36 version 2 question naire were filled out by the patients . Results : At the 17-year follow-up , no statistically significant differences were seen with respect to graft failure ( 2 reruptures in the semitendinosus and gracilis tendon [ STG ] group [ 6.3 % ] and 3 reruptures in the PT group [ 9.4 % ] ) and functional outcome . Increased instrumented laxity ( > 3 mm ) measured with KT-1000 arthrometer was seen in significantly more patients in the STG group ( 8 in the STG group compared with 2 in the PT group ; P = .03 ) with a mean side-to-side difference of 2.17 ± 1.86 mm in the STG group compared with 1.33 ± 1.93 mm in the PT group . A significant difference was found in frequency of knee osteoarthritis (OA)—100 % in the PT group compared with 71 % in the STG group ( P = .004 ) . Patients in the PT group tended to have higher grade OA according to the IKDC grading system , with an average grade of 1.46 in the PT group compared with 1 in the STG group ( P = .055 ) . The degenerative changes in the PT group were more common in the medial and patellofemoral compartments ( P = .003 and P = .04 , respectively ) . Conclusion : Both autografts provided good to excellent subjective outcomes . No significant differences were noted in graft failure and clinical instability . However , significantly more patients in the STG group had increased instrumented anteroposterior translation measured with KT-1000 arthrometer , and there was a greater prevalence of knee OA at 17 years after surgery in the PT group
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 .