Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the young patient without violation of the epiphyseal plate.

Abstract

A technique of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction that does not disturb the epiphyseal plate in the young patient with open physis is presented. A cryopreserved bone-Achilles tendon allograft was incorporated by an interference screw fixation to the bone plug in the tibia and an over-the-top positioning of the tendon on the femoral side. For this procedure, the minimal patient age that the thickness of the epiphysis can accept an interference screw greater than 15 mm in length is 8 years. An intra-articular reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament with the cryopreserved Achilles allograft using our technique is safe and recommendable for young patients with open physis.