Home › Trials › NCT07523854
Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages 13 to 45

Knee muscle strength after ACL reconstruction with quadriceps versus hamstring grafts

Official title: Effect of Graft Type on Knee Muscle Strength Development After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Run by Hacettepe University · NCT07523854 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study will see if using a quadriceps tendon or hamstring tendon graft leads to different early and mid-term knee muscle strength recovery in people aged 13–45 after ACL reconstruction.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages13 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
Enrollment80 (estimated)
SponsorHacettepe University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ankara)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 23, 2026
Main results expectedJanuary 25, 2027
Study endsFebruary 25, 2027
Registry record updatedApril 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT07523854 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are 13–45-year-olds undergoing unilateral primary ACL reconstruction with either a quadriceps or hamstring tendon autograft, who have a Tegner Activity Score of 5 or higher and can attend the follow-up visits and rehabilitation program.

Probably not a fit

Patients who receive patellar tendon grafts, allografts, revision or multiligament surgeries, or who have major cartilage, systemic, or neurologic disease are excluded and therefore are unlikely to benefit from these specific findings.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective observational study at Hacettepe University comparing early and mid-term muscle strength recovery after ACL reconstruction using either a quadriceps tendon autograft or a hamstring tendon autograft. Thirty-four participants (17 per graft group) aged 13–45 with unilateral primary ACL tears and Tegner score ≥5 will be followed through standardized postoperative rehabilitation. Knee extensor and flexor strength will be measured serially with isometric testing at weeks 4, 8, and 12 and month 6, and with isokinetic concentric testing at months 3 and 6, while functional outcomes and kinesiophobia will be recorded at month 6 using IKDC, KOOS, and the Tampa Scale. The design aims to identify differences in early strength profiles and 6-month clinical outcomes between graft types.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help surgeons and physiotherapists choose grafts or tailor rehabilitation to improve early strength recovery and return-to-function after ACL reconstruction.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has compared long-term outcomes between these graft types, but direct serial comparisons of early postoperative strength recovery are limited, so this study addresses a gap in the literature.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 13 to 45 years
* Undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with either hamstring tendon autograft or quadriceps tendon autograft
* Unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury
* Complete ACL tear with accompanying minimal collateral ligament injury and first-degree meniscal tear
* Tegner Activity Score of 5 or higher
* Willingness to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft or allograft
* Revision surgery
* Systemic or neurological disease
* Multiple ligament injuries
* Grade III lateral or medial collateral ligament tear or significant articular cartilage lesion
* Failure to regularly attend the rehabilitation program during the first 3 postoperative months
* History of lower extremity injury in the contralateral limb within the last 12 months
* Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, history of deep vein thrombosis, neurological disease, systemic inflammation, diabetes, cancer, or obesity

Where it's running

  • Hacettepe University
    Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ Find more trials like this →
Browse more
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation 13Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction Surgery 4Hacettepe University 85
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.