PURPOSE

To report the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft failure by physis status (open, closing, closed) and to analyze which factors were associated with higher risk of ACL graft failure.

METHODS

Patients younger than 18 years who underwent transphyseal ACL reconstruction (ACLR) between 2000 and 2018 at a single institution were reviewed at minimum 2 years after ACLR. Patient records were reviewed for anthropometrics, surgical techniques, and ACL graft failure. Patients were subsequently stratified based on physis status (open, closing, closed) and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 272 patients (mean age of 15.4 ± 1.3 years) were assessed. The transtibial technique was used in 63.6% of cases. A hamstring autograft was used exclusively in the open physis group. A patellar tendon autograft was used in 65.9% of patients with a closing physis and 80.9% of patients with a closed physis. The overall graft failure rate was 13.2%, with a contralateral ACL injury rate of 11.0%. Kaplan-Maier analysis by physis status showed different injury free from ACL reinjury ( < .001). An open physis was associated with increased risk of ACL reinjury (hazard ratio, 5.2; < .001) when compared to a closed physis. A closing physis presented a higher hazard ratio but was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 2.6;  = .08). Hamstring graft type ( = .03) and lower graft diameter ( = .04) were significantly related to higher ACL reinjury after adjusting for physis status.

CONCLUSIONS

Transphyseal ACLR is a safe procedure in pediatric patients. The rate of reinjury was 13.2%. This rate decreases with skeletal maturity, use of patellar tendon autograft, and a larger graft diameter.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective cohort study.