A Modified Lemaire Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis in High Risk Adolescents Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Two-Year Clinical Outcomes

BACKGROUND: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in patients aged 19 years or younger is increasing significantly and many patients possess risk factors that predispose to ACL re-tear. Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) may be performed in conjunction with ACLR to reduce the risk of ACL re-tear. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of performing a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) with a modified Lemaire technique (MLT) in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in children and adolescents at increased risk for failed ACLR. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients who underwent ACLR and LET with a minimum of 2-year follow-up data was analyzed retrospectively. ACLR techniques included all-epiphyseal (AE) and complete transphyseal (CT) and were indicated based on skeletal age. Skeletally immature patients underwent a QUAD ACLR. Patients with closed or closing growth plates underwent a BTB ALCR. Outcome measures included participants’ return to sports, concomitant or subsequent surgical procedures and multiple patient-reported outcome measures, including Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) and HSS Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) scores. RESULTS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients (mean age 15.16 ±1.74 years, range 11-19 years, 64% female) were analyzed (Table 1). Sixty-five patients (97%) participated in organized sports including soccer, basketball, football and lacrosse, with soccer being the most popular one. The median grade at the time of surgery was 9(th) grade. Eleven patients (16%) were revision ACLR procedures. Eight (12%) patients underwent AE and 59 (88%) underwent CT ACLR. Forty-six (69%) cases employed a QUAD autograft, while 21 (31%) utilized a BTB autograft. All patients underwent a LET with a MLT and 2 patients underwent simultaneous implant mediated guided growth with a plate for structural genu valgum. At two-year follow-up, median SANE score was 97, median Pedi-IKDC score was 91, and median HSS-Pedi Fabs score was 25. RTS rate was 93%. Fifteen patients had subsequent surgical procedures, including 3 hardware removal procedures for hemiepiphysiodesis, 4 contralateral ACLR, 5 meniscus surgeries, 1 lysis of adhesions, 1 hammertoe correction and 1 revision ACLR for BTB graft re-rupture. Two patients were lost to follow-up and excluded from the study. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that concomitant LET and ACLR in adolescent patients with risk factors for failed ACLR is associated with favorable patient-reported outcomes, high return to sports participation, and low ACL re-rupture rate at two years follow-up.