The Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee.

JBJS Rev · Jun 2020 · Review

Madhan AS, Patel NM

1Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 2Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of…

Sports Medicine Pediatric Orthopaedics

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONThis review of the knee's anterolateral ligament notes its consistent tibial but debated femoral attachment, role in rotational stability, and promising—though still limited—evidence for combined ACL/ALL reconstruction reducing reinjury.
Abstract, as published

The femoral attachment of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee is still under debate, but the tibial attachment is consistently between Gerdy's tubercle and the fibular head. The structure is less identifiable and more variable in younger patients. The ALL likely plays a role in rotational stability, but its impact on anterior stability is less clear. Numerous ALL reconstruction techniques have been described. Biomechanical analysis of these techniques has not shown clear benefits, but this literature is limited by the heterogeneity of techniques, graft choices, and study methodology. Clinical studies of combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and ALL reconstruction are few but promising in lowering the risk of an ACL reinjury. To our knowledge, there are no studies showing the clinical outcomes of combined ACL and ALL reconstruction in pediatric patients, who are at higher risk for ACL graft failure than adults.

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