%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of Graft Maturation by MRI in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With and Without Concomitant Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction.
%A Yau WP
%A Lin W
%J Orthop J Sports Med
%V 12
%N 1
%D 2024 Jan
%M 38304056
%F 3.401
%R 10.1177/23259671231223976
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (SB-ACLR) with concomitant anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) has been associated with better clinical results when compared with isolated SB-ACLR. However, it is not known whether the improved outcomes are the result of the influence of concomitant ALLR on ACL graft healing.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The purpose of this study was to determine whether concomitant ALLR is associated with improved graft ligamentization after SB-ACLR. It was hypothesized that ALLR would not affect graft healing.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A 1 to 1 matching study was conducted on a consecutive series of 732 patients who underwent ACLR using a hamstring tendon autograft between 2007 and 2019. Patients were excluded if they had skeletal immaturity, inflammatory joint disease, multiple ligament reconstruction (other than ALLR), or a graft rupture. Patients with concomitant SB-ACLR and ALLR (SB-ACLR/ALLR) and isolated SB-ACLR were matched 1 to 1 based on age, sex, examination under anesthesia (EUA) grade 3 pivot shift, EUA grade 3 anterior drawer test, presence of graft impingement, sagittal graft angle, skeletal maturity, lack of generalized ligamentous laxity, and multiple ligamentous injury. A total of 40 matched pairs underwent postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within the second year after surgery to assess graft ligamentization, which was measured by the signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ) of the ACL graft.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The mean follow-up period was 41 months, with a 2-year follow-up rate of 80% in the SB-ACLR/ALLR group and 98% in the isolated SB-ACLR group. The mean duration between the index operation and MRI was 16.4 ± 3.4 months. No significant difference was observed in the SNQ of the ACL graft between the SB-ACLR/ALLR and SB-ACLR groups (6.9 ± 4.6 vs 5.2 ± 4.8, respectively; P = .066).<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Study findings indicated that a concomitant ALLR at the time of hamstring tendon autograft ACLR did not affect graft healing as assessed by the SNQ of the ACL graft.