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Background: Growth disturbance is an uncommon but potentially serious complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in skeletally immature patients. Purpose: To describe how the pediatric ACL literature has assessed preoperative skeletal maturity and the amount of growth remaining and to comprehensively review the incidence, reporting, and monitoring of postoperative growth disturbance. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This review included studies reporting original research of clinical outcomes of skeletally immature patients after ACL reconstruction. Patient characteristics, surgical techniques, preoperative assessments of skeletal maturity or growth remaining, and postoperative assessments of growth disturbances were extracted. Results: A total of 100 studies met inclusion criteria. All studies reported chronological age, and 28 studies (28%) assessed skeletal age. A total of 44 studies (44%) used Tanner staging, and 12 studies (12%) obtained standing hip-to-ankle radiographs preoperatively. In total, 42 patients (2.1%) demonstrated a leg length discrepancy (LLD) >10 mm postoperatively, including 9 patients (0.5%) with LLD >20 mm; furthermore, 11 patients (0.6%) with LLD underwent growth modulation. Shortening was the most common deformity overall, but overgrowth was reported more frequently in patients who had undergone all-epiphyseal techniques. Most LLDs involved the femur (83%). A total of 26 patients (1.3%) demonstrated a postoperative angular deformity ≥5°, and 9 of these patients underwent growth modulation. The most common deformities were femoral valgus (41%), tibial recurvatum (33%), and tibial varus (22%). Although standing hip-to-ankle radiographs were the most common radiographic assessment of growth disturbance, most studies inadequately reported the clinical and radiographic methods of assessment for growth disturbance. Additionally, only 35% of studies explicitly followed patients to skeletal maturity. Conclusion: This systematic review described significant variability in the reporting and monitoring of growth-related complications after ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients. The incidence of LLD and angular deformity appeared to be low, but the quality of research was not comprehensive enough for accurate assessment. Registration: CRD42019136059 (PROSPERO) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increased interest in quadriceps autograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the pediatric population. Purpose: To evaluate children and adolescents who underwent ACL reconstruction using a quadriceps autograft to determine the properties of the harvested graft and to assess the value of demographic, anthropometric, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in predicting the graft size preoperatively. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective database search was performed from January 2018 through October 2020 for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Patients <18 years old at the time of surgery in whom a quadriceps tendon autograft was used were selected. Demographic data and anthropometric measurements were recorded, and graft measurements were abstracted from the operative notes. Knee MRI scans were reviewed to measure the quadriceps tendon thickness on sagittal cuts. Graft length and diameter were then correlated with anthropometric and radiographic data. Results: A total of 169 patients (98 male) were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 15 years (range, 9-17 years). A tendon length ≥65 mm was harvested in 159 (94%) patients. The final graft diameter was 8.4 ± 0.7 mm (mean ± SD; range, 7-11 mm). All patients had a graft diameter ≥7 mm, and 139 (82%) had a diameter ≥8 mm. Preconditioning decreased the graft diameter by a mean 0.67 ± 0.23 mm. Age (P =.04) and quadriceps thickness on MRI (P =.003) were significant predictors of the final graft diameter. An MRI sagittal thickness >6.7 mm was 97.4% sensitive for obtaining a graft ≥8 mm in diameter. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that tendon-only quadriceps autograft is a reliable graft source in pediatric ACL reconstruction, yielding a graft diameter ≥8 mm in 82% of pediatric patients. Furthermore, preoperative MRI measurements can be reliably used to predict a graft of adequate diameter in children and adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction, with a sagittal thickness >6.7 mm being highly predictive of a final graft size ≥8 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment options for pediatric and adolescent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries include early operative, delayed operative, and nonoperative management. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal treatment for these injuries. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to determine the optimal treatment strategy for ACL injuries in pediatric and adolescent patients. We hypothesized that (1) early ACL reconstruction results in fewer meniscal tears than delayed reconstruction but yields no difference in knee stability and (2) when compared with nonoperative management, any operative management results in fewer meniscal tears and cartilage injuries, greater knee stability, and higher return-to-sport rates. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic search of databases was performed including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were a pediatric and adolescent patient population (≤19 years old at surgery), the reporting of clinical outcomes after treatment of primary ACL injury, and original scientific research article. Exclusion criteria were revision ACL reconstruction, tibial spine avulsion fracture, case report or small case series (<5 patients), non–English language manuscripts, multiligamentous injuries, and nonclinical studies. Results: A total of 30 studies containing 50 cohorts and representing 1176 patients met our criteria. With respect to nonoperative treatment, knee instability was observed in 20% to 100%, and return to preinjury level of sports ranged from 6% to 50% at final follow-up. Regarding operative treatment, meta-analysis results favored early ACL reconstruction over delayed reconstruction (>12 weeks) for the presence of any meniscal tear (odds ratio, 0.23; P =.006) and irreparable meniscal tear (odds ratio, 0.31; P =.001). Comparison of any side-to-side differences in KT-1000 arthrometer testing did not favor early or delayed ACL reconstruction in either continuous mean differences (P =.413) or proportion with difference ≥3 mm (P =.181). Return to preinjury level of competition rates for early and delayed ACL reconstruction ranged from 57% to 100%. Conclusion: Delaying ACL reconstruction in pediatric or adolescent patients for >12 weeks significantly increased the risk of meniscal injuries and irreparable meniscal tears; however, early and delayed operative treatment achieved satisfactory knee stability. Nonoperative management resulted in high rates of residual knee instability, increased risk of meniscal tears, and comparatively low rates of return to sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 130,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions (ACLRs) are performed annually in the United States. Previous studies have shown that circumferential preconditioning reduces the diameter of fresh-frozen allografts, but no studies have described the effect in ACL autografts used during ACLR. Purpose: To characterize the changes in the hamstring autograft diameter as a result of preparatory circumferential preconditioning. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 135 patients with ACLR, with a median age of 15 years (interquartile range, 14-16 years; 50.4% boys), were identified in 2 pediatric hospitals. Three orthopaedic surgeons recorded hamstring autograft diameters at 2 time points during graft preparation. Hamstring tendons were prepared using a standardized procedure, tensioned to 15 to 20 lbs, and measured using cylindrical sizing guides. The graft was left with passive compression in the smallest initial rigid sizing guide for 10 minutes on both the tibial and femoral sides and then measured again immediately before implantation. Tunnels were drilled based on the second measurement of graft size. Comparisons were made between the graft diameter before and after circumferential preconditioning. A random-effects regression model and a linear regression model were performed to capture any unexplained variance on the linear predictor scale and determine correlations between demographics and graft characteristics. Results: The median initial diameter for both femoral and tibial sides was 9.5 mm. After longitudinal tension and circumferential preconditioning, the median autograft diameter of both sides decreased by 1 mm (P <.001) to 8.5 mm. In the random-effects model, decreased patient height was a significant predictor of greater reduction in graft diameter. Increased height was a significant predictor for greater initial graft diameter (average beta coefficient = 3.08; P <.01). No intraoperative complications were noted with implantation of the preconditioned grafts in smaller diameter tunnels. Conclusion: The median diameter of hamstring ACL autografts decreases by 1 mm after circumferential preconditioning within standard cylindrical sizing guides. This allowed for drilling of tunnels that were an average of 1 mm smaller without any noted intraoperative complications with graft insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been a growth of interest in quadriceps autograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the pediatric population. Hypothesis/Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate children and adolescents who underwent ACL reconstruction using a quadriceps autograft to determine the properties of the harvested graft and to assess the value of demographic, anthropometric, and MRI measurements in predicting the graft size preoperatively. Methods: A retrospective IRB-approved database search was performed from January 2018 through October 2020 for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Patients <18 years old at the time of surgery in whom a quadriceps tendon autograft was used were selected. Demographic data and anthropometric measurements were recorded and graft measurements were abstracted from the operative note. Knee magnetic resonance images (MRI) were reviewed to measure the quadriceps tendon thickness on sagittal cuts (Figure 1). Graft length and diameter were then correlated with anthropometric and radiographic data. Results: A total of 169 patients (98 male) were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 15 years (range, 9-17). A tendon length of 65mm or more was harvested in 159 (94%) patients. The mean final graft diameter was 8.4 ± 0.7mm (range, 7 – 11mm) (Table 1). All patients had a graft diameter of 7mm or more, and 139 (82%) had a diameter of 8mm or larger. Preconditioning decreased the graft diameter by a mean of 0.68 ± 0.23mm. Age (P=0.04) and quadriceps thickness on MRI (P<0.001) were significant predictors of the final graft diameter. An MRI sagittal thickness of >6.7mm was 97.4% sensitive for obtaining a graft of ≥8mm in diameter. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that tendon-only quadriceps autograft is a reliable graft source in the pediatric ACL reconstruction, yielding a graft of ≥8mm in diameter in 82% of pediatric patients. Furthermore, preoperative MRI measurements can be reliably used to predict a graft of adequate diameter in children and adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction, with a sagittal thickness of >6.7mm being highly predictive of a final graft size ≥8mm. Table 1. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models predicting a final graft diameter of 8mm or more. Significant predictors are indicated in bold. 95%CI: 95% Confidence interval, BMI: body mass index. Figure 1. Preoperative knee sagittal proton density-weighted MRI of a 13-year-old boy with ACL tear. Quadriceps tendon sagittal thickness was measure 1cm above the patella. The three layers of the quadriceps tendon (vastus medialis/lateralis, rectus, intermedius) are also visible in this image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent athletes who sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear have significantly reduced activity levels during recovery. Activity level is linked to body mass index (BMI); however, it is unclear how recovery from an ACL reconstruction (ACLR) affects relative BMI and whether these changes persist after return to activity.Hypothesis: Patients' BMI percentile will significantly increase after ACLR, but will trend toward baseline after return to activity.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Level Of Evidence: Level 3.Methods: A retrospective review of 666 pediatric and adolescent patients who underwent ACLR was performed. Body mass was assessed by evaluating change in BMI percentile at 8 standard-of-care time windows relative to BMI percentile at time of surgery. Linear regression and bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the effect of time window and other demographic factors on the change in BMI percentile. These analyses were rerun after dividing patients by clinical obesity categorization (underweight, normal, overweight, or obese) at time of surgery to assess the effect of preinjury body mass levels.Results: BMI percentile of all BMI categories tended to increase postoperatively, peaking 6 to 9 months after surgery, with a median increase of 1.83 percentile points. After this peak, BMI approached baseline but remained elevated at 0.95 percentile points 2 years postoperatively. Beginning 3 months after surgery, the normal-weight group had significantly larger changes in BMI percentile at each time window, peaking at 4.15 points above baseline at 9 months. This BMI increase among normal-weight patients persisted in the second postoperative year, with a median percentile increase of 2.63 points.Conclusion: Pediatric and adolescent patients, especially those with a normal BMI, undergo significant changes to their BMI during recovery from ACLR.Clinical Relevance: Patients' failure to return to their presurgical BMI percentile 2 years postoperatively suggests that ACLR may have long-reaching and often unappreciated effects on body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is good consensus that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts should be pretensioned to remove creep prior to implantation, but the literature contains little information on the influence of graft preparation or circumferential compression on graft size. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the size of hamstring allografts changes as they are prepared for ACL reconstruction. We hypothesized that grafts decrease in diameter as they are prepared with both tension and circumferential compression. We also investigated the interrater reliability of graft diameter measurements during each step of graft preparation.Methods: Twenty pairs of fresh-frozen human hamstring tendons obtained from an allograft supplier were prepared in a standardized fashion for ACL reconstruction (suturing followed by longitudinal tensioning followed by circumferential compression followed by relaxation). Four blinded raters measured each graft in a sequential manner after each graft preparation step. Interrater reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(2,1). The mean allograft diameter at each time point was calculated and compared across all time points using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: Subjecting the grafts to both tension and circumferential compression significantly decreased their mean diameter (to 7.38 mm compared with 8.28 mm at baseline; p = 0.044). Interrater reliability revealed almost perfect agreement at each measurement interval, with the ICC ranging from 0.933 to 0.961.Conclusions: The average diameter of hamstring ACL grafts decreases by almost 1 mm after they are subjected to both tension and circumferential compression within a standard cylindrical sizing block.Clinical Relevance: Because ACL bone tunnels are drilled in 0.5-mm increments, preparing soft-tissue grafts with circumferential compression in addition to tension may allow creation of tunnels that are one to two incremental sizes smaller. This could permit less bone removal, which may be particularly applicable for certain reconstruction techniques such as pediatric, double-bundle, or revision ACL reconstruction, in which limited space is available for tunnel drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the strength and functional performance recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) among preadolescent athletes. The study involved athletes ages 7-15 years who underwent ACLR between January 2007-September 2010. It concludes that significant strength and functional deficits may be present for some of these athletes at greater than one year following ACLR.