Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients with Associated Anterolateral Ligament Injury

Objective  To evaluate if there is a significant difference in the outcomes of isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients with or without associated anterolateral ligament (ALL) injury. Methods  We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study through the analysis of medical records and the application of the questionnaires of the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form to patients undergoing isolated ACL reconstruction. Results  The 52 participants included were divided into two groups: 19 with associated ALL injury and 33 with no associated ALL injury. None of the patients with associated ALL injury suffered an ACL rerupture, and 21.1% presented injuries to other knee structures after surgery. Among the patients with no associated injury, 6.1% suffered ACL rerupture, and 18.2% presented injuries to other structures after surgery ( p  = 0.544). Return to activities at the same level as that of the preoperative period occurred in 60% of the patients with associated ALL injury and in 72% of those with no associated injury ( p  = 0.309). The mean score on the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale was of 81.6 points in patients with associated ALL injury, and of 90.1 in those with no associated injury ( p  = 0.032). The mean score on the IKDC Subjective Knee Form was of 70.3 points in patients with associated ALL injury and of 76.7 in those with no associated injury ( p  = 0.112). Conclusion  There was no statistically significant difference regarding graft injuries or new injuries to other structures, satisfaction with the operated knee, or the score on the IKDC Subjective Knee Form. Return to activity was similar in the groups with and without associated ALL injuries. The scores on the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale were better, with a statistically significant difference in the group with no associated ALL injuries.