Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients who are prepubescent

Between 1980 and 1996, 17 children who were prepubescent have had a combine d intraarticular and extraarticular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using the iliotibial band that does not violate the physes, The a verage chronological age of the patients was 11 years (range, 2-14 years) a nd the average skeletal age of the patients was 10 years (range, 2-13 years ), Eight of the 10 patients who had attained skeletal maturity were evaluat ed at an average of 66.5 months postoperatively (range, 25-168 months). All knees were stable subjectively by history and objectively by KT1000(TM) te sting. The average Lysholm score at assessment was 97.4. No child with a tr aumatic disruption had leg length discrepancy develop.