The Risk of Growth Disturbance Is Low After Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With a Femoral Growth Plate Sparing Technique

PURPOSE: To evaluate radiological tibial and femoral length and axis growth disturbances, as well as clinical outcome in skeletal immature anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients treated with a femoral growth plate-sparing ACLR technique. METHODS: Skeletally immature patients who underwent operation between 2013 to 2019 with ALCR using the femoral growth plate-sparing technique were investigated with follow-up after growth plate closure. The inclusion criteria were isolated ACL rupture in patients with open physis in the distal femur and proximal tibia seen at plain radiography. The minimum follow-up time was 29 months. Patients were evaluated with full extremity radiographs measuring limb length discrepancy and coronal knee alignment compared to contralateral leg, as well as clinical evaluation with Rolimeter measurements and the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form (IKDC), and Tegner Activity Scale scores. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were examined with radiography, and 52 patients were assessed with clinical examination. The mean follow-up time was 68 (range, 29-148) months. No limb-length discrepancy (−0.65 mm [confidence interval {CI}, −2.21 to 0.92]) or angular deformity at tibia (−0.25° [CI, −0.78° to 0.28°]) was found. There was a small but statistically significant different angular deformity at the distal femur compared to the contralateral leg (−1.51° [CI, −2.31 to −0.72]) at follow-up. The side-to-side difference in knee laxity at follow-up was 2.4 mm. At follow-up the KOOS Sport, KOOS Quality of Life (QoL), IKDC, and Tegner scores were 80, 75, 86, and 5, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of the patients met the Patient Acceptable Symptom State, and 52% reported results exceeding the KOOS Sport MCID Level and 69% the KOOS QoL level. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral physis-sparing ALCR is associated with a low risk of alignment and length disturbances. The technique provides otherwise good subjective clinical outcome and knee stability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.