Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes

Female athletes are at a significantly greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury when compared to males. The cause of this is multifactorial, due to interactions of extrinsic, anatomic, genetic, hormonal, and neuromuscular factors. Careful preoperative consideration of the patient's anatomy, biomechanics, and goals is crucial when discussing graft type and adjunct procedures. Female athletes are also significantly less likely to return to sport than males, often due to fear of re-injury and/or distrust of their knee. To optimize success in female athletes, it is important to take a multidisciplinary approach, address modifiable risk factors, and provide holistic support.