ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT ALLOGRAFT RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SKELETALLYIMMATURE ATHLETE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament a llograft reconstruction in skeletally immature athletes. Eight patient s (mean age, 13 years, 6 months; range, 10 to 15 years) with radiograp hic documentation of open growth plates had anterior cruciate ligament repair and reconstruction with fascia lata or Achilles tendon allogra ft tissue. A 7-mm graft was centrally placed across the tibial physes and in an over-the-top position on the femur. All patients returned fo r followup a mean of 58 months (range, 22 to 94) postoperatively. All had an immediate knee motion and rehabilitation exercise program. The results were rated on a comprehensive rating system that assessed 20 v ariables. At followup, all patients showed closure of the growth plate s. The difference in lower limb length, measured on scanograms, was no t clinically significant. On KT-1000 arthrometer testing, 5 patients h ad less than 3 mm of increased anterior-posterior displacement (normal knee minus reconstructed knee) and 3 patients had between 3 and 5 mm. The final overall ratings were 6 excellent, 1 good, and 1 fair. The p rocedure is infrequently used, but appears to have merit in select, sk eletally immature athletes who desire not to modify athletic activity or when associated meniscal repairs warrant consideration for reconstr uction.