Intra‐articular Extender Button Deployment Without a Secondary Incision for Salvage of Compromised Femoral Cortical Fixation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

As suspensory fixation techniques for anterior cruciate ligament grafts gain popularity, so does the need to troubleshoot when intraoperative complications arise. A compromised lateral femoral cortex that cannot support the suspensory fixation is a complex intraoperative complication that can lead to graft failure. During these situations, an extender button is often used via a secondary incision. The technique described in this article allows for intra‐articular passage of the extender button without the need for a secondary incision using 2‐0 Vicryl sutures to attach the extender button to the suspensory button prior to graft passage. This cost‐effective method can decrease operative time and potentially decrease postoperative pain and wound complications by foregoing the need for a second incision.