Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Augmentation With Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate, Demineralized Bone Matrix, and Suture Tape Shows No Difference in Outcomes—But Faster Functional Recovery—Versus Non‐augmented Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and suture tape augmentation (STA) versus ACLR without biological augmentation or STA. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial at a single institution to compare ACLR with BMAC, DBM, and STA (group A) versus ACLR without biological augmentation or STA (group NA). The study sought to include 100 patients. Skeletally mature patients younger than 25 years received quadriceps tendon autograft, whereas patients aged 25 years or older underwent allograft ACLR with an all-inside technique. Patients with concomitant meniscal pathologies were included. The primary outcomes compared were range of motion (ROM), limb symmetry, and patient-reported outcomes. Secondary outcomes included radiographic outcomes and surgical complications. Univariate and mixed-model regression analyses were used to compare outcomes. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included (29 patients in group A 11 female patients, 38% and 30 patients in group NA 15 female patients, 50%). Early ROM at 6 weeks (125° of flexion vs 109° of flexion, P .999). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in International Knee Documentation Committee scores between groups at 2-year follow-up. Functional outcomes including early ROM and limb symmetry were significantly improved in patients who received ACLR with BMAC, DBM, and STA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, randomized controlled trial.