SynthesisThe American journal of sports medicine2026
No Evidence of Superior Graft Remodeling and Maturation When Adding a Lateral Extra-articular Procedure to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.
Synthesis in The American journal of sports medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- MRI Evaluation of Graft Remodeling After Transphyseal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Pediatric Patients: A 5-Year Follow-up.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- Pediatric ACL Injuries: A Current Concepts Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe use of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the effect of concomitant lateral extra-articular procedures (LEAPs) is not well documented in the literature. Few studies have assessed the MRI signal intensity-measured by the signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ)-of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft between individuals who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with simultaneous LEAP and those who did not. These comparative studies have produced conflicting results, though, which makes the topic particularly relevant. PURPOSE: To systematically compare existing evidence on graft maturation by performing a meta-analysis of combined ACLR and LEAP versus isolated ACLR. STUDY
designSystematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 3.
methodsThe methodology adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify potentially relevant comparative studies that analyzed postoperative graft maturation, at least 10 months after surgery, using MRI with SNQ after isolated ACL or ACL plus LEAP. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies was used for quality assessment.
resultsA total of 542 patients were included, with 307 receiving isolated ACLR and 235 undergoing combined ACL plus LEAP. Meta-analysis revealed no statistical difference between the groups regarding SNQ (
conclusionAdding a lateral extra articular procedure to ACLR does not improve graft remodeling and maturation. Furthermore, graft maturation is not influenced by the time from surgery, age, or sex. Despite the limited number of studies considered, these findings suggest that a lateral extra-articular procedure does not play a significant role in graft maturation and should be performed selectively.
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