There has been renewed interest in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair procedures in the past decade. The aim of this study was to evaluate complication rate and isokinetic test performance in a matched pair analysis between patients who underwent ACL reconstruction and patients who underwent ACL repair+augmentation.

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed. Patients undergoing ACL repair+augmentation with anterolateral ligament reconstruction were propensity matched in a 1:1 ratio to patients who underwent ACL + ALL reconstruction. At 6 months follow-up, patients were clinically evaluated and underwent isokinetic test. The overall complication rate and the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) were evaluated. The hamstring concentric and eccentric deficit was evaluated in relation to the non-operated limb.

The study population comprised 98 patients (49 matched pairs). The repair group presented 8 (16%) patients with complications and the reconstruction group presented 4 (8%) patients with complications (p=0.22). Regarding the repair group, the complications were: 3 re-ruptures, 2 lateral meniscus lesions, 1 medial meniscus lesion and 2 cyclops syndromes. In the reconstruction group, the complications were: 2 cyclops syndromes, 1 lateral meniscus lesion and 1 medial meniscus lesion. Regarding the LSI, the repair group had 12 (24%) patients presenting a concentric hamstring test deficit, and 12 (24%) patients with eccentric hamstring test deficit. The reconstruction group had 18 (37%) patients with concentric hamstring test deficit and 16 patients (33%) with eccentric hamstring test deficit.

The overall complication rate between patients who underwent ACL reconstruction and patients who underwent ACL repair+augmentation was not statistically different. Patients who underwent ACL repair+augmentation presented less hamstring deficit at the isokinetic test at 6 months follow-up.