The effect of intra-articular ACL reconstruction on the growth plates of rabbits

We performed intra-articular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with the semitendinosus tendon placed in 2 mm diameter tunnels in 21 skeletally immature rabbits. The operation caused 11% damage to the physis of the femur on the frontal plane and 3% of its cross-sectional area but no alteration of growth or axial deviation of the bone resulted. In the tibia, the operation caused 12% damage to the physis in the frontal plane and 4% of the cross-sectional area. Two tibiae developed valgus deformities and one was shortened. Histological examination showed no areas of epiphysiodesis. There was no abnormality of growth-plate thickness in the two cases of tibia valga. Osseous metaplasia in the grafted tendons did not occur. The results suggest the need for careful evaluation of the percentage of damage to the growth plate before using intra-articular methods for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in adolescents.