Background Posterior cruciate ligament injuries can occur as isolated ligament ruptures or in association with the multiligament-injured knee. Delayed reconstruction, at 2-3 weeks post-injury, is predominantly recommended for posterior cruciate ligament tears in the multiligamentinjured knee. While acute bone and soft tissue avulsion patterns of injury can be amenable to repair, the described techniques have been associated with some difficulties attaching the avulsed ligament.

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PurposeTo compare a femoral physeal sparing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique utilizing a posteromedial portal to traditional transphyseal techniques with regards to anatomic tunnel positioning and proximity to important neurovascular structures. MethodsEight cadaveric knees were obtained for the study. Femoral tunnel guide pins were placed utilizing four different techniques: accessory anterior medial portal, posteromedial portal, trans‐tibial, and figure‐4 methods. The knees were then dissected and the following measurements taken: distance of each pin to the saphenous and peroneal nerve, popliteus tendon, neurovascular bundle, femoral ACL footprint and articular cartilage, and the angle of the guide pin entering the lateral femoral condyle. Fluoroscopic imaging was taken to determine the disruption of the physeal scar. ResultsPosteromedial portal guide pin was significantly closer to the neurovascular bundle, popliteal tendon and saphenous nerve when compared to the other 3 techniques, but was further from the peroneal nerve. It also had the smallest distance from the anatomic footprint of the ACL, and the largest angle to the lateral femoral condyle. The posteromedial portal guide pin had similar distance from the articular cartilage as the accessory anterior medial portal and figure‐4 guide pin, with the trans‐tibial guide pin being the farthest. The posteromedial portal guide pin failed to disrupt the physeal scar in all specimens, while the other three techniques consistently violated the physeal scar. ConclusionThe posteromedial portal technique offers an appropriate method for anatomic ACL reconstruction while protecting the distal femoral physis from injury. Care needs to be taken with this technique as it comes in closer proximity to some of the important neurovascular structures. This study indicates that posteromedial portal technique is a less technically challenging approach for physeal‐sparing ACL repair with special attention required for the protection of neurovascular bundle from potential injury.

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