Adding a Lateral Extraarticular tenodesis to ACL Reconstruction in 2022

Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) is a procedure used to control anterolateral rotatory laxity. It was first described to treat the ACL deficient knee prior to advent of intra-articular reconstruction. The aim was adding a lateral soft tissue restraint away from the central pivot of the knee to improve rotational control. The recent evidence from the STABILITY RCT has shown that the addition of LET to hamstring autograft ACLR in young patients (14-25 years ) results in clinically relevant reduction in graft rupture and persistent rotatory laxity at 2 years postoperatively. This has subsequently been verified by various authors that adding a lateral soft tissue restraint to an intraarticular ACL reconstruction reduced both primary and revision ACL graft failures. The current indication for adding an LET to ACL surgery are : in high grade knee laxity in clinic detected on physical examination, patients with joint laxity, chronic ACL injuries, athletes returning to pivot sports after surgery and in revision ACL cases.