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Evidence-Based Treatment for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Children

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Paediatric Orthopaedics

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Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the skeletally immature athlete were once considered an unusual injury. However, with the sharp rise in early sports specialization and year round training, ACL tears in the developing athlete are becoming more commonplace. The treatment for this injury in the skeletally immature group is evolving. There is a increasing trend to reconstruct the ACL in the developing athlete to restore knee stability and minimize progressive chondral and meniscal injury. However, this remains a controversial topic and there remain strong advocates for nonoperative management and bracing until skeletal maturity to avoid injury to the growth plate. Surgical options include: physeal sparing (Iliotibial band and all-epiphyseal reconstructions), partial transphyseal/hybrid techniques and complete transphyseal ACL reconstructions. With proper rehabilitation after surgery, these children are returning to their sport. Despite these surgical techniques, there is good evidence that ACL injured knees are predisposed to develop early osteoarthritis. Therefore, moving forward there should be a focus on ACL prevention programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University, New York, USA

    Charles A. Popkin

  2. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    M. Lucas Murnaghan

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  1. Charles A. Popkin
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  2. M. Lucas Murnaghan
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Correspondence to Charles A. Popkin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Sattar Alshryda

  2. Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar

    James S. Huntley

  3. Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, United Kingdom

    Paul A. Banaszkiewicz

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Popkin, C.A., Murnaghan, M.L. (2017). Evidence-Based Treatment for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Children. In: Alshryda, S., Huntley, J., Banaszkiewicz, P. (eds) Paediatric Orthopaedics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41142-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41142-2_13

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