Comparison of Two Fixation Techniques for Bone-Patella Tendon-Bone Graft in Arterial Cruciate Ligament Repair

The gold standard in ACL reconstructions has been the bone–patellar tendon–bone autograftfixed with interference screws. This prospective study، aimed to compare two method of fixation for BPTB grafts: press fit fixation vs. interference screw، over a 12 months follow-up interval. In a randomized clinical trial study، 158 patients with an average age of 29. 8 years were treated for torn ACL with BPTB autograft in a teaching hospital in Tehran، Iran. In 82 patients press fit fixation technique، and in 76 cases an interference-screw was used. At the time of final follow-up، 71 patients in press-fit group and 65 patients in interference-screw group were evaluated in terms of return to pre-injury activity level، pain، knee stability، range of motion، IKDC score and complications. In the final follow-up، 59 cases in interference screw and 55 in press-fit screw group had good-to-excellent IKDC score (p≥. 05). The mean laxity assessed improved to 2. 7 mm and 2. 5 mm in press-fit and screw group، respectively. Regarding Lachman and pivot shift tests، there was a statistically significant improvement in the integrity of the ACL in both groups، with no significant difference (p≥. 05). the press-fit technique is an efficient procedure. Its outcome was comparable with the interference screw group. Furthermore it has unlimited bone-to-bone healing، no need for removal of hardware، ease for revision and cost effectiveness.