Surgical treatment of anterolateral rotatory instability

Anterolateral rotatory instability in 31 acutely injured knees and 31 chronically unstable knees was surgically stabilized with a previously unreported method of iliotibial band tenodesis. The anterior cruciate ligament was stretched, torn, or absent in all 62 knees. Thirty-one patients, 20 with acute injury and 11 with chronic instability, were reviewed at a minimum of 2 years. A meniscal tear was present in 80% of the acute and in 91% of the chronic injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament was repaired, in addition to the iliotibial band tenodesis in 16 of the 20 acute injuries; there was no difference in the overall results between those repaired and not repaired. The evaluation of the patients was based on four subjective criteria (including functional parameters) and five objective criteria. Ninety-three percent of the patients had returned to competitive or recreational athletic activities involving cutting or pivoting movements. Both subjective and objective results were excellent or good in 93.6% of the patients. These results, based on our evaluation, warrant continued use of this procedure, according to the prescribed indications and technique.