Summary
Re operation rate for stiffness within the first 12 months was higher in the ACLR and LEAT group compared to ACLR group alone
Abstract
Materials and Methods.
Between 2016 and 2021, 1351 soft tissue ACL reconstructions were performed in patients under the age of 30 years. Outcomes were analysed in 1104 patients, having undergone an ACLR with an additional modified Ellison procedure (190 patients) or an ACLR alone (914 patients). A detailed analysis of post-operative complications was performed, with a focus on re operation for post-operative stiffness or suspected cyclops lesion.
Results
The percentage of the entire cohort undergoing an additional Ellison procedure increased over the years, with 2% in 2017 and 52% in 2021. Re operation rate for stiffness or suspected cyclops lesions was higher in the ACLR and Ellison group (n = 15, 8%), compared to the ACLR alone group (n = 35, 4%). There were no differences between the groups for wound infection, graft failure rates, knee laxity, eventual range of motion or effusions.
Conclusion
Although the re operation rate in the ACLR and Ellison group was higher, this did not translate into a permanent loss of motion. The perceived benefit of additional lateral extra articular tenodesis procedures is to reduce the graft failure rate. Further long-term analysis of this cohort and graft failure rates will be important to ascertain whether a higher early loss of motion is an acceptable risk.