Prospective Evaluation of Osseous Integration in ACL Reconstruction Comparing Tightrope vs Interference Screw Fixation

After obtaining institutional review board approval the investigators conducted this prospective randomized controlled trial with goal of 1:1 allocation ratio between the two study groups. All subjects were recruited at the preoperative appointments. The senior investigator discussed ACL reconstruction with the patients. Appropriate preoperative counseling was performed regarding graft options. If inclusion criteria were met, patients received information about the study. Informed consent was obtained from those choosing to enroll in the study including consent for a CT scan at the six month postoperative time period. The patients were randomized for fixation technique on the day of surgery from a list using the medical record number. Patients underwent ACL reconstruction with Achilles tendon allograft with femoral-sided bone block fixation with either (1) a biocomposite interference screw (aperture fixation) or (2) cortical button (suspensory fixation).

The inclusion criteria included patients between the ages of 18 and 50 able to provide informed consent with ACL tears meeting the indications for reconstruction and electing to undergo reconstruction with an Achilles tendon allograft. Excluded patients included those with a history of prior ACL reconstruction, pregnancy, inflammatory disease, a primary bone disorder, those taking bone resorption inhibitor medications, and those with injuries to the collateral ligaments or posterior cruciate ligament.

All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon at a single institution using the same technique. Initial diagnosis of ACL deficiency was made on physical exam and magnetic resonance imaging. This was confirmed with arthroscopy at the beginning of the case. The Achilles-calcaneal bone allograft was thawed. The tendinous portion was tubularized and whip-stitched with a locking Fiberloop suture (Arthrex, North Naples, FL, USA). Sutures were passed through the bone block and the graft diameter was measured. The graft was then pre-tensioned. Femoral tunnels were made using the anteromedial portal at 120 degrees of knee flexion. The tibial tunnel was created using an outside-in technique over a pin centered at the ACL footprint. In the aperture fixation group, the bone graft end was pulled through into the femoral tunnel and secured with a biocomposite interference screw (BioComposite Screw, Arthrex, North Naples, FL; or MILAGRO screw, DePuy Mitek, Raynham, MA, USA). In the suspensory fixation group, a cortical button (TightRope, Arthrex, North Naples, FL, USA) was pulled through the femoral cortex and used to shuttle the Achilles bone plug into the femoral tunnel until it was just recessed within the medial intercondylar surface. In both groups, tibial fixation was identical with a bioabsorbable interference screw (BioComposite Screw, Arthrex, North Naples, FL, USA or Milagro screw) and a backup knotless anchor (4.5 mm Biomet Peek knotless anchor, Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA). The graft was fixed at near full extension after having cycled the knee through range of motion with the graft tensioned.

All patients underwent a specified ACL post-operative rehabilitation protocol depending on concomitant pathology. Cycling was permitted at the six-week mark. In-line jogging typically was allowed at four months with initiation of pivoting motions at seven to eight months. Full return to sports was allowed after nine months. Younger patients enrolled in a sports metrics program followed by a functional ACL exam prior to return to sports. A commuted tomography (CT) scan of the operative knee was obtained postoperatively at six months.

Demographic data including age, gender, and body mass index were collected. The primary outcome measure was bony incorporation of the bone block within the femoral tunnel with CT scan. This was assessed with the femoral ossification score as determined by three board certified radiologists.

The femoral ossification score was devised as a practical means of semi-quantitatively assessing the degree of bone incorporation around the femoral bone plug or screw fixation device present in each patient.

Each CT scan score assessment was performed by one of three musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologists. Whenever an ossification score was deemed to be borderline between two categories, a consensus score was determined by two of the radiologists. The impression in the CT report included the femoral ossification score as well as a footnote with the entire scale to explain the score.

Secondary outcome measures included pain score on a visual analogue scale (VAS) obtained preoperatively, at the first post-operative visit, and at return to sports. Physical examination findings included range of motion (ROM) and Lachman grading which were measured preoperatively and at return to sporting activities. Finally, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee evaluation score, Tegner-Lysholm Knee score, and Cincinnati Knee Rating system scores were assessed both pre-operatively and post-operatively at return to sports.