Extra-articular tenodesis for anterior cruciate ligament rupture in amateur skiers

Thirty one amateur skiers with 33 knees which had had a symptomatic chronic rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) treated with the Lemaire operation were reviewed retrospectively at an average of 4.5 years. Of the patients 23 were women. The operation failed to control symptoms in 17 out of the 33 knees. However the operation did control symptoms in 13 out of 19 knees in patients over 35 years old, compared with only three out of 14 knees in patients under 35 years old. Clinical and objective testing however showed that most knees were still unstable. Despite this 21 patients continued skiing. One patient with a successful result switched to playing tennis. Five patients gave up all sports. Four further patients, all under 35 years old, returned to skiing after an additional intra-articular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. An isolated extra-articular procedure in amateur skiers under 35 years old with symptomatic chronic ACL rupture is not recommended. They need at least an intra-articular reconstruction to control their symptoms and to stabilize the knee.