Update on paediatric ACL injuries

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Sports Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Increasing incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children over the past two decades.
• Potential contributing factors include heightened awareness, earlier sports participation, and improved diagnostic imaging.
• Literature suggests poor long-term outcomes with non-operative management of pediatric ACL tears.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current trends in managing pediatric ACL injuries.
• To emphasize the natural history, surgical techniques, and growth plate effects.
• To discuss potential complications associated with ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of pediatric ACL injury management.
• Analysis of studies focusing on non-operative vs. operative treatments.
• Evaluation of surgical techniques and their impact on physeal development.

Main Results:

• Short to medium-term results of ACL reconstruction in children are encouraging.
• Long-term outcomes following pediatric ACL reconstruction remain largely unknown.
• Non-operative treatment generally yields poor long-term results.

Conclusions:

• Management of pediatric ACL injuries requires careful consideration of growth.
• Surgical techniques must address potential physeal disruption.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term efficacy and safety of ACL reconstruction in children.