[Knee injury in children]

The diagnosis approach after knee injury in children must be carefully taken care of the growth plates but it is necessary to emphasize the frequency of the ligament and intra-articular lesions, and on the other hand to consider their benign reputation. Clinical and conventional radiologic examination give in most of the cases the correct diagnosis. For the others an examination under general anesthesia ++ is necessary to distinguish the ligament and the growth plate lesions. MRI must not replace the arthroscopy which is necessary for an haemarthrosis with a stable knee or a little isolated anterior instability. The non-surgical treatment is indicated for benign sprain and non-displaced or mid-displaced fractures if the reduction is perfect and stable. All the other lesions need a surgical treatment which must be the most conservative as possible, especially for the meniscus, because their integrity is a guarantee for the quality of the long term result.