Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anterior knee symptoms after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) using either pateller tendon (PT) or hamstring tendon (HS) autograft.

Materials and Methods: 45 patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction were randomized to have a PT (23 patients) or a doubled HS (22 patients). Patients were reviewed after 3, 6, and 9 months. Patients were examined for knee pain and sensory changes in the anterior aspect of the knee, the ability for kneeling and sensitivity of the surgical incision.

Results: At the last follow-up in the PT group 4 patients (17%) had anterior knee pain, knee-walking test was impossible for 4 patients (17%), 3 patients (13%) reported to have surgical incision sensitivity and 4 patients (17%) had numbness in the skin area supplied by the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. In the HS group, 2 patients (9%) had anterior knee pain, knee-walking test was impossible for 2 patients (9%), 2 patients (9%) reported to have surgical incision sensitivity and 10 patients (45%) had numbness in the skin area supplied by the infrapatellar branch of the saphe-nous nerve. There was a statistical significant difference (p< 0.05) regarding the sensory changes in the anterior aspect of the knee.

Conclusions: Harvesting of the PT or HS autograft for ACL reconstruction is associated with a low rate of anterior knee symptoms. Sensory changes following HS harvesting is significantly higher. However, this does not appear to be of great clinical importance without limitation of activities.