Prediction of angular deformity and leg-length discrepancy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature patients.

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in young children and adolescents are becoming more common as more youngsters participate in organized sports. The dilemma for the orthopaedic surgeon is that untreated ACL ruptures may result in meniscal damage and joint degeneration, whereas surgical treatment may result in physeal arrest, with shortening and angular deformity. To help determine the appropriate timing for ACL repair in skeletally immature patients, graphs have been developed to predict the amount of shortening and angular deformity to expect after repair.