title: ACL reconstruction in children with open physes.
abstract: Nine male patients with wide open physes who underwent intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts passed through the tibial physis and over the top of the femoral condyles were retrospectively reviewed at an average follow-up of 39 months (range: 24 to 72 months). Five patients underwent reconstruction < 6 weeks following injury (range: 11 days to 41 days); the other four underwent reconstruction 2, 3, 5, and 24 months following injury. Seven patients had excellent results and fully returned to their sport. Mean Lysholm score in these patients was 99 (range: 95 to 100), and the mean maximum KT-1000 difference (available for six patients) was 2.8 mm (range: 0 to 5.5 mm). Four of six intact grafts had a mean maximum KT-1000 difference < or = 3.5 mm. Two grafts ruptured and were considered failures (one complete rupture at 10 months and one partial rupture at 3 years). Postoperative height increase averaged 10.7 cm (range: 4 to 22.9 cm). No patient had a clinically significant leg-length discrepancy, angular deformity, or radiographic evidence of physeal injury.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wickiewicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D007867:Leg Bones / Q000254:growth & development; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*