Similar postoperative outcomes and landing test results after single-bundle anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without remnant preservation

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with or without remnant preservation is controver-sial. Few reports use landing tests to compare the recovery results after ACLR with or without remnant preservation. The purpose of the current study was to determine the performance of patients who underwent ACLR with or without remnant preservation during landing tests.METHODS: The patients receiving treatments of ACL injuries from January 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively screened and had follow-up evaluations between 28 August 2019 and 20 January 2020. The drop vertical jump (DVJ) maneuver was performed. Clinical scores (Lysholm, Tegner, and pain) and sports biomechanical parameters (vertical ground reaction force, knee flexion angle, and knee varus angle) of the knee joints were measured during the landing test of double legs.RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (24 males and 3 females) met the inclusion criteria and completed the follow-up evaluations. According to the patients' surgery types, the patients were classified into remnant preservation (N.=16) and non-remnant preservation groups (N.=11). No significant differences existed in clinical scores and sports bio-mechanical parameters of the knee joints during the landing test between the two groups (P> 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the peak knee flexion angle (pKFA) between injured and uninjured knees during landing in remnant preservation group (P=0.001).CONCLUSIONS: ACLR with or without remnant preservation resulted in similar postoperative recovery outcomes and similar landing test results.