144 Good results of surgically treated pediatric knee ligament injuries in Denmark 2011–20 at one-year follow-up

IntroductionProspective data on treatment outcome from unselected cohorts of children with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are sparse. Since 2011 the surgical treatment of children with ACL injury in Denmark has been concentrated at two centers. The aim was to present one-year results after pediatric ACL-reconstruction in Denmark for the period 2011–20.Materials and MethodsConsecutive children (< 16 years old) who had an ACL-reconstruction were prospectively followed with patient reported outcome measure Pedi-IKDC, pivot shift and instrumented laxity before surgery and one year later. One-year follow-ups were performed by independent observers.ResultsA total of 518 children had an ACL-reconstruction. Median age: 14.6 years (range 8–16) and 45% were girls. A quadruple semitendinosus or a doubled semitendinosus-gracilis autologous tendon was used as graft in all but one child. Pedi-IKDC score was 57.0 preoperatively and 85.7 at 1-year (maximum score 92). Side-to-side difference of instrumented anterior laxity was 4.25 mm preoperatively and 1.3 mm at follow-up. Pivot-shift was preoperatively/at 1-year: no pivot: 3/22%, grade 1: 20/56%, grade 2: 74/21%, and grade 3: 3/1%. Two (0.3%) had an operatively treated deep infection, 3 (0.5%) were treated for reduced range of motion, 2 (0.3%)% for a cyclops, and 4 (0.7%) had a rupture of the graft.ConclusionACL reconstruction resulted in a large increase in Pedi-IKDC score, a large decrease of instrumented laxity, and a reduction of pivot shift. Complication rate was low and 1-year re-rupture rate was 0.7%.