The Double-Edged Sword: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions on Adolescent Patients—Growth Plate Surgical Challenges and Future Considerations

Abstract

The management of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in pediatric patients presents unique challenges due to the presence of open growth plates in the proximal tibia and distal femur. Delaying ACL reconstruction until skeletal maturity may protect the physes but increases the risk of secondary injuries, such as meniscal tears and chondral damage, due to prolonged joint instability. Conversely, early surgical intervention restores knee stability but raises concerns about potential growth disturbances, including leg-length discrepancies and angular deformities. This narrative review examines current approaches to pediatric ACL management, highlighting the risks and benefits of both conservative and surgical treatments. Additionally, it explores the role of finite element modeling (FEM) as an innovative tool for pre-surgical planning. FEM offers a non-invasive method to optimize surgical techniques, minimize iatrogenic damage to growth plates, and improve patient outcomes. Despite its potential, FEM remains underutilized in clinical practice. This review underscores the need to integrate FEM into pediatric ACL care to enhance surgical precision, reduce complications, and improve long-term quality of life for young patients. By synthesizing available evidence, this review aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive framework for decision-making and identify future directions for research in pediatric ACL reconstruction.