AANA19 Knee Access Pass-Graft Choice for Pediatric ACL-Dr. Frank A. Cordasco, M.D.

Graft Choice for Pediatric ACL-Dr. Frank A. Cordasco, M.D.

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discusses graft choices for pediatric and adolescent ACL reconstruction, emphasizing that allografts have high failure rates and thus are unsuitable. Among autografts, the hamstring has traditionally been favored, but recent data show high graft failure rates in young adolescents using hamstring grafts, especially in the intermediate growth group (8th-9th graders). The institution transitioned to using quadriceps autografts with promising early results: no revisions and 93% return to sport. Literature supports better outcomes with quadriceps grafts, showing greater strength and less donor morbidity. The speaker concludes that quadriceps autografts are preferable to hamstrings in young athletes.

Keywords

Pediatric ACL reconstruction

Quadriceps autograft

Hamstring graft failure

Adolescent athletes

Graft selection outcomes