Abstract
Combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterolateral injury of the knee can
result in significant functional instability for the affected individual. Both components
of the instability must be treated to maximize the probability of success for the
surgical procedure. Higher failure rates of the ACL reconstruction have been reported
when the posterolateral instability has been left untreated. The purpose of this article
is to describe our surgical technique, and present the results of 34 chronic combined
ACL posterolateral reconstructions in 34 knees using allograft tissue, and evaluating
these patient outcomes with KT 1000 knee ligament arthrometer, Lysholm, Tegner, and
Hospital for Special Surgery knee ligament rating scales. In addition, observations
regarding patient demographics with combined ACL posterolateral instability, postoperative
range of motion loss, postinjury degenerative joint disease, infection rate, return
to function, and the use of radiated and nonirradiated allograft tissues will be presented.
Keywords
anterior cruciate ligament - posterolateral instability - combined ACL posterolateral
instability - allograft - mechanical graft tensioning
