Outcomes and Complications After All-Epiphyseal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients:

Background:The safest and most effective technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in skeletally immature patients is currently unknown.Purpose:To evaluate the functional and patient-reported outcomes of a specific all-epiphyseal ACL reconstruction technique in which the graft, bone tunnels, and fixation do not cross the knee growth plates.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Twenty-seven patients (23 boys, 4 girls; mean age, 11 years; range, 8-15 years) underwent an all-epiphyseal ACL reconstruction with a single femoral transverse epiphyseal tunnel and primarily split tibial epiphyseal tunnels. Outcomes were evaluated in terms of the manual Lachman test, range of motion, pain, return to activity, angular or leg-length deformity on imaging, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) or Pedi-IKDC score an average of 3.8 years postoperatively, with a minimum 2-year follow-up.Results:The mean IKDC score was 94 ± 11. There were no growth arrests, but 3 patient...