Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the young athlete: evaluation and treatment

Injuries to the pediatric and adolescent athlete are becoming more common as increasing numbers of this patient population are participating in year-round sporting activities. As these figures continue to rise, there have been an escalating number of patients with both traumatic and nontraumatic, sports-related knee injuries presenting to orthopedic surgeons for evaluation. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in these patients, specifically in the skeletally immature, represent a complex problem. Treatment of these patients requires a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology of the pediatric patient, the natural history of this injury, and knowledge of the potential complications of surgical intervention. This review will address these topics and will describe the presentation, diagnosis, and most commonly used surgical techniques currently being used with these patients. Future directions and advances in care of these injuries will also be discussed.