Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a hamstring tendon autograft.

Material and Method: The study included 74 male, 2 female patients (mean age 26,7 years; range 17 to 43 years) with chronic ACL ruptures. Invol-vement was in the right knee in 39 patients, and in the left knee in 37 patients. All the patients were treated with a four-strand hamstring autograft, Endobutton CL femoral fixation and an interference screw on the tibial side. All patients had an ACL reconstruction with an autogenous four-strand hamstring graft. Forty-one patients received treatment for other meniscal pathologies. All patients followed a similar accelerated rehabilitation program after surgery. Final evaluations were made using the Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scoring systems, Cincinati and the Tegner activity rating system in the final follow-up.

Results: The Lysholm scores were good and excellent for 67 patients (88,2 %) and the IKDC scores were grade A or B in 68 patients (89,4 %) and grade C in 8 patients (10,5 %). Radiographic examination showed mild (three patients) or moderate (two patients) degenerative changes in the knee joint. Compared with the normal side, no flexion or extension losses occurred in the affected knees.

Conclusion: Reconstruction of the ACL using four-strand hamstring tendons and Endobutton CL femoral fixation may be a safe and effective method, resulting in considerably high success rates.