Named lateral extra-articular tenodesis technique using an iliotibial band strip.
The Lemaire procedure is a named technique for lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET), performed as an adjunct to ACL reconstruction. A strip of iliotibial band is harvested, routed deep to the lateral collateral ligament, and fixed onto the distal femur to add a checkrein against anterolateral rotational laxity.
For clinicians managing post-op rehab, knowing whether a Lemaire (or other LET variant) was added changes expectations around lateral-sided tightness, knee flexion range early on, and the rationale behind more conservative pivoting timelines. It also matters when interpreting a surgeon's letter or counselling a patient on why their ACL reconstruction included an extra lateral incision.
In clinic, the procedure itself isn't something you apply or test directly — it's a surgical fact you take from the operative note. Its downstream effects are tracked functionally, through range of motion, lateral knee tenderness or tightness, and rotational stability measures such as the pivot-shift test at follow-up.
Pooled outcome data on LET frequently lump Lemaire, MacIntosh, and other variants together, so trial-level conclusions about efficacy or complication rates may not hold for this specific technique. Clinicians should avoid assuming a uniform rehab protocol across LET variants and should check operative details rather than treating 'lateral tenodesis' as a single standardised procedure.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.