Posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletal immature children.

PURPOSE: Rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a rare knee injury in children with open growth plates. The follow-up results of six patients with open physes treated with PCL reconstruction are presented. The objective is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PCL reconstruction for six skeletally immature patients.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2010, six skeletally immature patients were treated with PCL reconstruction. At the time of surgery, the median age was 9 years (range 6-14). The median follow-up time after surgery was 50 months (range 41-90). Outcomes were evaluated by KOOS and Tegner scores, instrumented knee laxity, and radiologic long-axis leg length measurements.

RESULTS

The median KOOS score at follow-up was 88 (range 26-98). The median Tegner score was 6 (range 4-7). The median side-to-side difference in laxity according to KT-1000 was 2 mm (range 1-5) at 25° of flexion and 3 mm (range 3-6) at 70° of flexion. A median side-to-side difference in flexion of 8° was found. All but one patient had returned to playing sports at follow-up. One patient's index leg had a length discrepancy of 16 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

PCL reconstruction resulted in fair to good clinical outcomes for skeletally immature children. Clinically relevant leg length discrepancy was found in one of the six patients examined in this study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.