CORR Insights®: Does Combined Intra- and Extraarticular ACL Reconstruction Improve Function and Stability? A Meta-analysis

Letter to the Editor: Does Combined Intra- and Extraarticular ACL Reconstruction Improve Function and Stability? A Meta-analysis

“…This paper provided an excellent review of the existing literature on this topic, demonstrating slightly reduced laxity but no clear clinical or functional advantage for the combined procedure versus ACL reconstruction alone. Both this paper and the thoughtful insights provided by Dr. Baumfield [1] argue convincingly that further studies are necessary to determine the possible clinical benefits of extraarticular procedures when performing ACL reconstruction.…”

Reply to the Letter to the Editor: Does Combined Intra- and Extraarticular ACL Reconstruction Improve Function and Stability? A Meta-analysis

“…Identifying those indications should be the motivation for adding an additional procedure that might indeed further constrain AP laxity and internal rotation. As suggested by Dr. Baumfeld [2], further randomized trials comparing current anatomic ACL reconstruction techniques with and without an anterolateral ligament reconstruction are required to determine whether the procedure is worthwhile, in light of its added surgical time and risk. Perhaps the best way to reconcile Dr. Baumfeld's call for randomized trials with Dr. Tashman's concerns about extraarticular procedures would be to focus on his idea that extra-articular procedures should not be used ''routinely,'' to identify those knees that might really benefit from the additional procedure, and then to compare anatomic ACL reconstructions with extra-articular procedures in only these situations.…”