Editorial Commentary: When Biomechanics Apparently Conflicts With Clinical Practice: The Role of Translational Medicine Regarding Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Lateral Knee Reconstruction.

Abstract

The role of the anterolateral ligament as a secondary restraint to the anterior cruciate ligament in controlling tibial internal rotation and pivot shift is greatly debated today because biomechanical studies lead to conflicting results. However, extra-articular reconstructions used along with intra-articular reconstructions seem to be able to improve knee stability and reduce the rate of failure, especially when a graft other than bone-patellar tendon-bone is used as an anterior cruciate ligament substitute. For translational medicine, the task is to fill the gap between laboratory studies and clinical practice.