Carrozzo Alessandro, Monaco Edoardo, Saithna Adnan, Cantagalli Matteo Romano, Carlo Bianco Nicola, Ciacio Serena, Annibaldi Alessandro, Maffulli Nicola
Department of Life, Health and Health Professions Sciences, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, AOU Sant'Andrea, University of Rome "La Sapienza," School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jun 26;13(6):23259671251350298. doi: 10.1177/23259671251350298. eCollection 2025 Jun.
BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in pediatric and adolescent populations have seen an uptick due to increased competitive sports participation. Treatment paradigms have shifted from nonoperative management to early reconstruction to prevent meniscal and cartilage damage. However, no consensus exists on the optimal reconstruction technique, particularly in skeletally immature patients. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a limited transphyseal all-inside ACL reconstruction (ACLR) technique, hypothesizing that it would yield favorable clinical results without growth disturbances, graft failure, or complications at minimum 2-year follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged between 10 and 18 years undergoing ACLR at Sant'Andrea University Hospital of Rome from January 2015 to June 2021 were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were closed physes, previous knee surgeries, and multiligament injuries. The limited transphyseal all-inside technique was used to minimize physeal damage during ACLR by carefully controlling tunnel size, orientation, and depth. Patients underwent standardized follow-ups at 2 and 6 weeks and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. In addition, all patients were recalled for a final evaluation between February and August 2023. The final assessment included a physical examination (range of motion, pivot shift, Lachman test, Rolimeter-measured laxity, limb-length discrepancy, and deformity) and completion of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Postoperative longstanding anteroposterior radiographs were obtained to evaluate radiographic growth disturbance. A comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment was performed by measuring the signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ), tunnel widening, graft healing, and graft maturity. RESULTS: Overall, 24 patients met inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 14.2 years. At a mean follow-up of 53.1 months (range, 28-90), the graft rupture rate was 12.5%, and the contralateral ACL rupture rate was 8.3%. Overall, the incidence of growth disturbances was 15.8% in patients who underwent radiologic evaluation. These included cases of angular deformity of >5° or limb-length discrepancy of >10 mm. The mean limb-length discrepancy was 0.31 cm, with no significant differences in limb alignment. MRI analysis revealed a mean tibial tunnel widening of 5.1%, and the mean SNQ was 2.85 ± 0.91 (range, 1.5-4.4). Graft maturity, assessed using the Howell grading system, was classified as grade 1 in 50% of patients and grade 2 in the remaining 50%, while graft healing was graded as 1 in 60% and 2 in 40%; in both, lower grades indicated better results. PROMs showed high scores for Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Lysholm scales, with a postoperative median Tegner activity scale score of 7. All patients returned to sports activities. CONCLUSION: Limited transphyseal all-inside ACLR in skeletally immature patients demonstrated promising clinical outcomes and a low rate of significant growth disturbances, suggesting that it is an effective and safe technique for this population.
背景:由于青少年参与竞技性体育活动的增加,儿童和青少年人群的前交叉韧带(ACL)损伤有所上升。治疗模式已从非手术治疗转向早期重建,以预防半月板和软骨损伤。然而,对于最佳重建技术尚无共识,尤其是在骨骼未成熟的患者中。 目的/假设:本研究的目的是评估有限经骨骺全内置ACL重建(ACLR)技术的有效性和安全性,假设在至少2年的随访中,该技术将产生良好的临床结果,且无生长发育障碍、移植物失败或并发症。 研究设计:病例系列;证据等级,4级。 方法:纳入2015年1月至2021年6月在罗马圣安德烈亚大学医院接受ACLR的10至18岁连续患者。排除标准为骨骺闭合、既往膝关节手术和多韧带损伤。有限经骨骺全内置技术用于在ACLR期间通过仔细控制隧道大小、方向和深度来尽量减少骨骺损伤。患者在术后2周和6周以及3、6、12和24个月接受标准化随访。此外,所有患者在2023年2月至8月期间被召回进行最终评估。最终评估包括体格检查(活动范围、轴移试验、拉赫曼试验、Rolimeter测量的松弛度、肢体长度差异和畸形)以及完成患者报告的结局指标(PROMs)。获取术后长期前后位X线片以评估影像学生长发育障碍。通过测量信噪比(SNQ)、隧道增宽、移植物愈合和移植物成熟度进行全面的磁共振成像(MRI)评估。 结果:总体而言,24例患者符合纳入标准,平均年龄为14.2岁。平均随访53.1个月(范围28 - 90个月),移植物破裂率为12.5%,对侧ACL破裂率为8.3%。总体而言,接受放射学评估的患者中生长发育障碍的发生率为15.8%。这些包括角度畸形>5°或肢体长度差异>10 mm的病例。平均肢体长度差异为0.31 cm,肢体对线无显著差异。MRI分析显示胫骨隧道平均增宽5.1%,平均SNQ为2.85±0.91(范围1.5 - 4.4)。使用豪厄尔分级系统评估的移植物成熟度,50%的患者为1级,其余50%为二级,而移植物愈合情况60%为1级,40%为2级;在这两种情况中,较低等级表示结果更好。PROMs在膝关节损伤和骨关节炎结局评分、国际膝关节文献委员会和Lysholm量表中显示出高分,术后Tegner活动量表中位数评分为7分。所有患者均恢复了体育活动。 结论:骨骼未成熟患者的有限经骨骺全内置ACLR显示出良好的临床结果和较低的显著生长发育障碍发生率,表明该技术对该人群是一种有效且安全的技术。
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