title: Management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in skeletally immature adolescents.
abstract: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in skeletally immature adolescents are being diagnosed and reported with increasing frequency. Nonoperative management of mid-substance ACL injuries in adolescent athletes frequently results in a high incidence of giving-way episodes, recurrent meniscal tears, and early onset of osteoarthritis. An intraarticular ACL reconstruction (using the central 10-mm patellar tendon graft) in young athletes approaching skeletal maturity provides predictable excellent knee stability, and the athletes are able to return to competitive sports with a decreased risk of recurrent meniscal and/or chondral injury. Guidelines for the management of ACL injuries in skeletally immature adolescents are presented.
authors.affiliation: Methodist Sports Medicine Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Shelbourne
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McCarroll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012741:Sexual Maturation