Hamstring, bone-patellar tendon-bone, quadriceps and peroneus longus tendon autografts for primary isolated posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review

Introduction Several autografts are available to reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Source of data Current scientific literature published in PubMed, Google scholar, Embase and Scopus. Areas of agreement Hamstring, bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB), quadriceps and peroneus longus (PLT) are the most common tendon autografts used for primary isolated PCL reconstruction. Areas of controversy The optimal tendon source for PCL reconstruction remains nevertheless debated. Identifying the most suitable tendon autograft could assist the surgeon during primary PCL reconstruction. Growing points The present study compared the outcome of PCL reconstruction using hamstring, BPTB, quadriceps and PLT autografts. The focus was on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), joint laxity, range of motion and complications. Areas timely for developing research All autografts are viable options for PCL reconstruction, with BTB and hamstring autografts demonstrating superior PROMs. However, further clinical investigations are required to determine the ideal autograft construct.