Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implementing the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Concept in Rehabilitation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Published on: March 1, 2024
Does combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction improve return to sport?
Arnaud Gonnachon1, Ludovic Labattut2, Nafiz Abdoul Carime3
1Orthopedics Department, CHU F.Mitterrand Dijon-Bourgogne, 12 Bd Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 21000, Dijon, France. arnaud.gonnachon@chu-dijon.fr.
Purpose:
Only 50-65% of patients return to their previous sporting level after ACL rupture. The literature reports a reduced rate of graft rupture when an anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) is associated with ACL reconstruction. ACL reconstruction combined with ALL allows a higher return to sport at pre-injury level than isolated reconstruction in patients playing pivot-contact sports.
Methods:
A retrospective, single-centre study between 2012 and 2020 comparing reconstruction by hamstring tendon technique, isolated ACLR vs ACL with ALLR. An isokinetic test was performed at 6 months post-operatively and patients were re-contacted at a minimum 2-year follow-up to assess their level and delay to return to sport, graft rupture rate and functional evaluation.
Results:
83 patients were included, 42 in ACLR group and 41 in ACL + ALLR group. Four patients were lost to follow-up and 79 patients were analysed. No significant difference was found on the level of return to sport (28.2% vs. 42.5%; p = 0.18), return to competition (43% vs. 60%; p = 0.18), delay to sports return, isokinetic assessment, functional scores, but a significant difference was found on graft rupture rate in favour of ALLR (12.8% vs. 0%; p = 0.02).
Conclusion:
In our study, the addition of an ALL to ACL reconstruction did not improve pre-injury sports recovery or return to competition.
Study Design:
Cohort study, level of evidence 4.
