Comparison of Lower Extremity Recovery After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Transphyseal Hamstring Versus Extraphyseal Iliotibial Band Techniques in Skeletally Immature Athletes.

Background: The influence of graft type on recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has not been adequately studied in pediatric patients.

Purpose: To describe lower extremity functional recovery parameters at the 6-month mark after ACLR across 3 distinct groups of skeletally immature patients: pediatric male patients with transphyseal hamstring grafts (PM-HS), pediatric female patients with transphyseal hamstring grafts (PF-HS), and pediatric male patients with extraphyseal iliotibial band grafts (PM-ITB).

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Thigh circumference, knee range of motion, lower extremity strength, dynamic balance, and hop test performance were assessed in all patients 6 months postoperatively. All participants were ≤15 years of age with open physes. The limb symmetry index was used to compare deficits between the operated and uninvolved limbs for all 3 groups (PM-HS, PF-HS, and PM-ITB). Analysis of variance with post hoc correction was employed.

Results: A total of 93 pediatric patients who underwent ACLR (PM-HS: n = 21 [mean age, 13.6 ± 1.0 years]; PF-HS: n = 33 [mean age, 13.4 ± 0.7 years]; PM-ITB: n = 39 [mean age, 12.5 ± 1.3 years]) were examined. There was no statistically significant difference in thigh circumference, range of motion, dynamic balance, or hop test performance between the groups. Of the various additional comparisons analyzed, there were statistical differences in hamstring strength deficits among the 3 groups ( = .004). The PM-HS group showed a greater hamstring strength deficit (-32.2% relative to healthy limb) than the PM-ITB group (-5.4% relative to healthy limb) ( = .012). The hamstring strength deficit of the PF-HS group (-18.7% relative to healthy limb) was less than that of the PM-HS group and greater than that of the PM-ITB group but not statistically significant in either case.

Conclusion: Significant hamstring strength deficits were detected in the PM-HS group compared with the PM-ITB group at 6 months following ACLR. Such findings may influence decisions regarding graft selection, timing of return to sports, and postoperative rehabilitation regimens.