Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears Treated With Single Stage Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears occur rarely because they create special difficulties when doctors need to perform surgery and patients must recover and get back to their activities. The current research on single-stage bilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction does not provide enough data about its treatment results. The research investigates patient outcomes following single-stage bilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction which uses hamstring autografts for grafting.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four male patients with bilateral grade III ACL tears underwent single-stage bilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon. The mean age was 24.1 years (Range, 17–41 years). The diagnosis became evident through both clinical evaluation and MRI results which led to the assessment of functional results using Lysholm and Tegner scores before surgery and after the last follow-up visit (At least 2 years).

Results: The mean follow-up duration was 3.16 years (Range, 2–5 years). The mean Lysholm score improved from 46.75 preoperatively to 97.04 at final follow-up, while the mean Tegner activity score increased from 5.45 to 8.79. Two patients developed superficial graft-harvest site infections in one knee, which resolved with conservative management. No other early or late postoperative complications were observed. At final follow-up, all 48 reconstructed knees were clinically stable, with no evidence of graft failure.

Conclusion: The single-stage bilateral arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using hamstring autografts enables young active patients who have bilateral ACL injuries to achieve outstanding functional outcomes and stable knees with minimal complications.

JCMCTA 2026 ; 37 (1) : 115-122