Comparison of short term clinical outcomes between transtibial and transportal TransFix® femoral fixation in hamstring ACL reconstruction

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical results of transtibial and transportal TransFix (R) methods in ACL reconstruction. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight patients were randomized into either transtibial TransFix (R) (n=88) or transportal TransFix (R) (n=80) femoral fixation groups for hamstring ACL reconstruction. Patients were clinically evaluated through history and physical examination as well as the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores and a rolimeter over an 18-month time frame. Results: According to the IKDC score, there were more normal knees in the transportal group than the transtibial group (37 vs. 25). Mean Lysholm score was 78.32 +/- 10.7 in the transtibial group and 81.41 +/- 8.2 in the transportal group (p=0.037). Mean rolimeter value was 2.2 +/- 1.13 mm in the transtibial group and 1.73 +/- 0.85 nun in the transportal group (p=0.002). At the final follow-up, 20 patients in the transtibial group and 10 in the transportal group had a Lachman test grade of 2 or 3. More intraoperative complications in terms of graft passage difficulties and posterior wall blow-up were seen in the transportal group. Conclusion: Transportal TransFix (R) technique appears to produce better clinical results than the traditional transtibial technique.