Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41743308›Full record

ReviewJournal of experimental orthopaedics2026

LARS-augmented hamstring ACL reconstruction shows better early but similar long-term outcomes compared with hamstring autograft alone: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Panagiotis Antzoulas, Vasileios Giannatos, Andreas Panagopoulos, John Lakoumentas, Vasileios Athanasiou, Antonios Kouzelis, Zinon Kokkalis, Irini Tatani, Spyridon Plesas, John Gliatis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of experimental orthopaedics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Panagiotis AntzoulasDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1682-662X
Vasileios GiannatosDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
Andreas PanagopoulosDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
John LakoumentasDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Health Sciences University of Patras Patras Greece.
Vasileios AthanasiouDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
Antonios KouzelisDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
Zinon KokkalisDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
Irini TataniDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.
Spyridon PlesasDepartment of Orthopedics General Hospital of Nikaia Athens Greece.
John GliatisDepartment of Orthopaedics University Hospital of Patras Patras Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether augmenting hamstring autografts with the Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System (LARS) during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) enhances early recovery, improves functional outcomes, and accelerates return to sport (RTS), compared to standard hamstring autografts alone. With increasing emphasis on accelerated rehabilitation, the study seeks to clarify the clinical role of synthetic graft augmentation. Methods: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a comprehensive systematic review was conducted focusing on ACLR using hamstring autografts augmented with LARS. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024536835). A literature search was performed using PubMed and Scopus databases. Primary outcome was anterior laxity based on KT-1000, while secondary outcomes included the Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), anterior cruciate ligament-return to sport after injury (ACL-RSI), complication rates, graft failure and RTS. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Six studies involving a total of 764 patients met the inclusion criteria. Results: LARS-augmented ACLR was associated with significantly better early functional outcomes, including higher Lysholm, IKDC and Tegner scores (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.83, 0.5 and 0.72, respectively), higher psychological readiness (ACL-RSI) and earlier RTS. KT-1000 measurements showed no statistically significant difference between the hybrid and autograft groups. However, long-term outcome differences between augmented and non-augmented groups were minimal. Conclusion: LARS augmentation in ACLR is a promising technique, supporting early rehabilitation, secure graft stability and timely return to activity, potentially benefiting older individuals or those with higher body mass index (BMI). Selective use of LARS may be advantageous in high-demand patients or early RTS protocols, while future implications could include augmentation in case of suboptimal graft quality. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Indexed as

ACL reconstructionhamstring autograftLARSligament augmentationreturn to sport

Identifiers

PMID41743308
PMCPMC12930285

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.