Anatomic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee with or without reconstruction of the anterolateral ligament: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: To systematically analyze the effectiveness between combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ACL+ALLR) and isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) for treatment of patients with injured ACL.

Methods: We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, and Wanfang Data for all relevant studies. All statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.3.

Results: A total of six articles with 460 study subjects were included, with 193 patients in ACL+ALL reconstruction group and 267 patients in ACL reconstruction group. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the ACL+ALL reconstruction group had significantly lower KT measured value (P < 0.00001), Lachman test positive-rate (P = 0.02), Pivot-shift test positive-rate (P < 0.00001) and graft rupture rate (P = 0.02) compared with the ACL reconstruction group. Higher IKDC score ( < 0.00001) and Lysholm score ( < 0.00001) were measured in ACL+ALL reconstruction group, while infection rate ( = 0.86) and other complications rate ( = 0.29) showed no significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusions: Anatomic reconstruction of the ACL of the knee with reconstruction of the ALL indicates better postoperative knee function and clinical outcomes compared with isolated ACL reconstruction. The infection rate and other complications rate showed no significant difference between two groups.