Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is no clear consensus regarding the superiority of a combined anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) versus an isolated ACLR. In this study, we compared the postoperative stability profile, complications, and patient-reported outcomes of these procedures. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear who were either treated by an isolated all-inside ACLR (n = 21) or a combined all-inside ACLR and ALLR (n = 20) were included. The outcomes were evaluated in the last follow-up and included the postoperative stability profile evaluated by the Lachman test, pivot shift test, and KT-1000 side-to-side difference, postoperative complications, and patient-reported outcomes evaluated by the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and Lysholm knee scale. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different. The residual Lachman and pivot shift were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.41 and P = 0.18, respectively). The mean KT-1000 side-to-side difference was 1.93 ± 1.9 mm in the isolated and 1.635 ± 0.91 mm in the combined group (P = 0.01). The mean improvement of the IKDC score was not significantly different between the isolated and combined groups (24.7 vs. 25.2, P = 0.28). The mean improvement of the Lysholm scale was not significantly different between the isolated and combined groups (33.5 vs. 34.1, P = 0.19). ACL re-rupture occurred in three patients of the isolated group and no patient of the combined group. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of patients in the present study support performing a combined ALL and ACL reconstruction.