The Commonest Indication for Performing a Slope‐Reducing Osteotomy With an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Is Graft Failure With a Posterior Tibial Slope of 12° or Greater: A Systematic Review of Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

PURPOSE: To (1) summarize indications/inclusion criteria and contraindications/exclusion criteria, operative techniques and details, and rehabilitation timelines for slope-reducing osteotomies with concomitant primary or revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACLR) and (2) summarize the radiographic and clinical outcomes that follow these types of surgeries. METHODS: Three databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE) were searched on December 22, 2024, for studies with patients undergoing ACLR with concomitant slope-reducing osteotomy. The authors adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: Six case series (Level IV) comprising 193 patients (27.5% female) with a mean age of 28.5 (range of means, 26.9-29.6) years were included. Four of 6 studies (66.7%) reported an indication for slope-reducing osteotomy, being a posterior tibial slope of 12° in revision or re-revision cases. Typical exclusion criteria for osteotomy reported by 5 studies included hyperextension of 5° to 10° or hypermobility (4 studies) and concomitant osteoarthritis (3 studies). Lysholm, Tegner, and visual analog scale scores all statistically increased postoperatively. Rates of return to sport at any level ranged from 81.3% to 100% and 25% to 100%, respectively. Graft failure rates in all studies ranged from 0% to 13%. Rates of recurvatum postoperatively ranged from 15% to 44%. Rates of hardware irritation/removal ranged from 0% to 46.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The most common indication for slope-reducing osteotomies with concurrent ACLR is in the revision setting in patients with a posterior tibial slope above 12°. Slope-reducing osteotomies with ACLR improve patient-reported outcome measures postoperatively and have low rates of instability and retear rates. Complications with osteotomy include postoperative recurvatum, postoperative hyperextension, and hardware removal. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.