PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare graft failure and clinical outcomes following primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using quadriceps tendon autograft (QA), with or without a modified Lemaire lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET).
METHODS: Patients with ACL deficiency who underwent primary QA ACLR with or without LET and completed at least 2-year follow-up were included. Patients with a Beighton score ≥4, a preoperative pivot shift grade ≥2, or an intention to return to cutting and pivoting sports were offered LET. The primary outcome variable assessed was graft failure as defined by graft rupture or grade ≥2 pivot shift at any point postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included return to sport clearance rates, the International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores and postoperative complications.
RESULTS: There were 122 undergoing QA ACLR with LET (QA + LET group) and 152 undergoing isolated QA ACLR (QA group). The QA + LET group had a significantly lower failure rate of 14.8% versus 29.6% in the QA group (P = .02). In addition, the QA + LET group had a lower residual pivot shift rate compared with the QA group (11.3% vs. 26.3% respectively; P = .01). There was no difference in graft retear rates between the 2 groups (P = .37). The QA + LET returned to sport significantly faster at 8.8 months compared with 9.7 months in the QA group (P = .038).
CONCLUSIONS: The addition of LET to QA ACLR was associated with a significantly lower overall graft failure rate and lower percentage of patients with residual pivot shifts after ACLR compared with QA alone at 2-year follow up. However, there was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to graft retear rates. The addition of an LET to QA ACLR also allowed athletes to return to sports faster compared with QA alone.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.
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