BACKGROUND

Increased lateral posterior tibial slope (LPTS) is associated with increased rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and failure of ACL reconstruction. It is unknown if ACL deficiency influences the developing proximal tibial physis and slope in skeletally immature patients through anterior tibial subluxation and abnormal force transmission.

PURPOSE

To assess the natural history of LPTS in skeletally immature patients with an ACL-injured knee.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A total of 38 participants from a previous study on nonoperative management of ACL injury in skeletally immature patients were included. During the initial study, bilateral knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 1 year of enrollment and again at final follow-up. All patients were younger than 13 years at the time of enrollment, and final follow-up occurred a mean 10 years after the injury. MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed by 2 reviewers to determine bilateral LPTS for each patient and each time point. Linear mixed models were used to assess LPTS differences between knees, change over time, and association with operational status. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients who remained nonoperated throughout the study.

RESULTS

A total of 22 patients had ACL reconstruction before final follow-up and 16 remained nonoperated. In the entire study population, the mean LPTS was higher in the injured knee than in the contralateral knee at final follow-up by 2.0° ( < .001; 95% CI, 1.3°-2.6°). The mean LPTS increased significantly in the injured knee by 0.9° ( = .042; 95% CI, 0.03°-1.7°), while the mean LPTS decreased in the contralateral knee by 0.4° ( = .363; 95% CI, -0.8° to 0.4°). A significant difference in LPTS was also observed in the nonoperated subgroup. No significant association was observed between LPTS and operational status.

CONCLUSION

Lateral posterior tibial slope increased more in the ACL-injured knee than in the contralateral uninjured knee in a group of skeletally immature patients. Lateral posterior tibial slope at baseline was not associated with the need for surgical reconstruction over the study period.