title: Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in young athletes.
abstract: During a meniscectomy, thirty competitive athletes who were less than thirty years old were found to have a non-functional or absent anterior cruciate ligament. Preoperative examination without anesthesia had revealed minimum to mild anterior instability without a positive pivot-shift or jerk test. They all had a meniscectomy without reconstruction of the ligament and all were followed for up to four years (average, 2.6 years). Twenty-five (83 per cent) returned to full athletic activity. All had relief of the symptoms of the meniscal lesion and improved significantly, but six progressed to moderate anterior instability with a positive pivot-shift and jerk test. Nevertheless, four of the six were able to resume unrestricted athletic activity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery