Lateral Tenodesis Associated With an Intra-articular Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Without Proximal Disinsertion of Iliotibial Band

Combined All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Semitendinosus Plus Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction With Intact Gracilis Tibial Insertion and Transtibial Passage

The indications for combining anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with anterolateral ligament reconstruction have increased considerably in recent years since several anatomical, clinical, and biomechanical studies have proven the importance of the anterolateral periphery in knee rotational stability. Much is still being discussed on how to combine these techniques in terms of which grafts and fixation options to use, as well as avoiding tunnel convergence. This study aims to describe anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a triple-bundle semitendinosus tendon graft all-inside technique combined with an anterolateral ligament reconstruction maintaining the gracilis tendon insertion on the tibia, using independent anatomical tunnels. With this, we were able to reconstruct both using only hamstring autografts, reducing morbidity in other possible donor areas, in addition to allowing stable fixation of both grafts without tunnel convergence.

Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis: A Technique With an Iliotibial Band Strand Without Implants

The main goal in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) should be to restore normal knee biomechanics so the chances of failure decrease. The persistence of knee instability after ACLR goes from 0.7% to 20%. Several factors have been identified and studied, but there are some selected cases in which it seems that without adding lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) it is not possible to control rotational instability. Data exist supporting that LET could reduce pivot shift (PS), without losing flexion/extension range of motion nor adding risk of osteoarthritis. Recently, LET has been used in addition to ACLR to add restriction to internal tibial rotation forces, and different authors have shown their techniques to achieve this task. Also, biomechanical studies have compared different techniques for LET procedures. This article aims to describe our technique performing a modified Macintosh LET as an addition to ACLR in selected patients who require extra internal tibial rotation control. This is a reproducible, easy to learn, and inexpensive procedure in terms that only a high resistance suture is needed and not any other implant, such as a stapler, anchors, or screws, reducing the risk of tunnel coalition.