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.