No abstract

ObjectiveWe compared autografts and allograft using partial and complete transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction techniques among skeletally immature individuals.MethodsMale and females younger than 18 and 16 years old, respectively, diagnosed with ACL tear from April 2006 to March 2012 entered the study. One group had four-strand hamstring autograft, and the other had tibialis posterior allograft reconstruction. Those who had allografts either had hyper-laxity or recurvatum.ResultsAchieved mean (± SD) 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score was not statistically different (P = 0.385) between allograft (n = 13) (84.3 ± 3.2) and autograft groups (n = 18) (85.6 ± 4.4). Mean Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale Knee-Related Quality of Life at 2 years was 78.0 ± 7.2 and 75 ± 7.4 for allograft and autograft groups, respectively (p = 0.261). Mean 2-year KOOS subscale Sports and Recreation was 82.1 ± 5.8 and 84.8 ± 6.6 for allograft and autograft groups, respectively (p = 0.244).No patient reported instability, giving way, or locking of the knee. Pivot shift test was negative in all patients; however, a minor positive Lachman test was found in six cases (46%) within the allograft group and seven cases (39%) in the autograft group. One postoperative septic arthritis was documented in the autograft group.ConclusionConsidering existing concern that joint laxity and recurvatum are among the precursors of non-contact ACL injury in adolescents, bone-patellar-bone autografts are not applicable in this age group because of the open physis; furthermore, considering that hamstring autografts are insufficient (size thickness and stretchability), we recommend soft tissue allografts for ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients.

The mainstay of treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is considered to be surgery, especially when associated with medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears. We aimed to evaluate our hypothesis that some patients with concomitant ACL and MCL tears may develop spontaneous healing without surgical intervention. This study was conducted during 2013 to 2017. A total of 707 patient referred with combined ACL and MCL injuries. Patients were divided into three groups according to type of ACL and MCL management as follows: (1) group 1 as those who only had ACL reconstruction without any surgical treatment of MCL; (2) group 2 as those who had ACL reconstruction and MCL surgery (reconstruction, reefing, or both); (3) group 3 as those who showed spontaneous healing of ACL and MCL. Overall, 206 and 129 patients entered groups 1 and 2, respectively. Overall, 15 patients showed spontaneous healing of ACL and entered group 3. Skiing and soccer were the most common causes of injury within the third group, followed by traffic accidents (35.7%, 35.7% and 21.4%, respectively). All these were noncontact injuries within this groups. In group 3 only three patients had concomitant meniscal injury. Mean healing time for patient with spontaneous healing was 8.66 ± 3.41 months. All patients showed ACL tears at the proximal part of its attachment. During follow-up, all pivot shift, Lachman and MCL tests were either negative or one plus. All these individuals returned to previous physical activity. Among the total number of patients with skiing injuries presenting with concomitant ACL/MCL injuries (27 patients), five patients (18.5%) showed spontaneous healing. Valgus and external rotation injuries with dominancy of valgus force, apart from a MCL tear, may lead to proximal tear of ACL as well, and the inflammation from the torn MCL can potentiate and stimulate the healing process of ACL; thus, patient with this mechanism of injury is better followed before surgical intervention is planned as spontaneous healing may occur.