Midterm Result of Arthroscopic Bicruciate Ligament Sutures for Multiligament Knee Injury in an Adolescent Patient.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of multiligament knee injuries, especially in adolescent patients, is challenging for orthopedic surgeons. Repair of collateral ligaments and reconstruction of cruciate ligaments are usually performed, however, ligament reconstruction with transphyseal or physeal-sparing techniques may lead to physeal damage and growth disturbances in skeletally immature patients. We present a case report on performing bicruciate ligament sutures arthroscopically in an adolescent patient.

PATIENT AND METHODS: The patient was a 14-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and medial collateral ligament. Single-stage arthroscopic primary suturing of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and open medial collateral ligament suturing were performed 7 days after the injury.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The patient returned to routine activities, including high-level competitive sports, at 8 months post-surgery, and currently, 8.5 years after surgery, remains without complications. Suture repair was able to minimize the size of the bone tunnels and to re-establish knee stability with native tissues. Therefore, the application of sutures may be a useful option for repairing multiligament knee injuries, particularly in adolescent patients.