Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fixing a tibial eminence fracture with a tri-pulley is a new technique. The purpose of this study was to present the early clinical outcome of arthroscopic tri-pulley suture fixation for tibial eminence fractures in children. METHODS: Twenty-one pediatric patients with type II or type III anterior tibial eminence fractures were included in this retrospective study. All Patients underwent surgical fixation by tri-pulley technology and were followed up for at least 24 months. They were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively by physical, X-ray, and computed tomography (CT) examination and subjectively with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Lysholm questionnaires. RESULTS: The patients included 12 males and 9 females; mean age, 12.5 years (range, 8 ~ 16 years). They were followed-up for a median of 27 months (range, 24 ~ 39 months). We did not find post-operative instability in any of the patients by physical examination. The KT-2000 difference of both knees decreased from 9.3 ± 1.2 mm preoperatively to 2.6 ± 0.8 mm 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.001); the IKDC subjective knee evaluation score improved from 43.1 ± 13.2 preoperatively to 83.8 ± 6.3 postoperatively (P < 0.001); and Lysholm improved from 48.3 ± 6.21 to 87.1 ± 9.8 (P < 0.001). No unhealed fractures or epiphyseal damage were reported in the postoperative X-ray and CT. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic tri-pulley fixation technology may provide a suitable technique for repair of tibial eminence fractures in skeletally immature patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series; Level of evidence IV.