Isokinetic Strength After ACL Reconstruction: Influence of Concomitant Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction

To reduce the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft rupture, recent surgeries have involved anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR). This reconstruction procedure harvests more knee flexor muscle tendons than isolated ACL reconstruction (ACLR), but its influence on knee muscle strength recovery remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of ALLR with a gracilis graft on the strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles at 6 months postoperatively.

The additional amount of knee flexor harvest for ALLR would result in impairment in knee flexor muscle strength at 6 months postoperatively.

Retrospective cohort study.

Level 2.

A total of 186 patients were assigned to 2 groups according to the type of surgery: ACL + ALLR (graft: semitendinosus + gracilis, n = 119) or isolated ACLR (graft: semitendinosus, n = 67). The strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at 90, 180, and 240 deg/s for concentric and 30 deg/s for eccentric contractions and compared between groups using analysis of variance statistical parametric mapping.

Regardless of the surgery and the muscle, the injured leg produced significantly less strength than the uninjured leg throughout knee flexion and extension from 30° to 90° for each angular velocity (30, 90, 180, and 240 deg/s). However, the knee muscle strength was similar between the ACL + ALLR and ACLR groups.

The addition of ALLR using the gracilis tendon during ACLR does not alter the muscle recovery observed at 6 months postoperatively.

Although more knee flexor muscle tendons were harvested in ACL + ALLR, the postoperative strength recovery was similar to that of isolated ACLR.