title: Influence of Age on Healing Capacity of Acute Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of patient age on the effects of conservative treatment of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 102 consecutive patients with acute ACL injury were allowed to heal without surgery. Final magnetic resonance imaging images of the ACL were classified from grade I, indicating good morphological recovery, to grade IV, indicating poor recovery. Chi-square analysis was used to determine significant differences in the incidence of grades I and II among those less than 20 versus those 20 years or more of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up to final magnetic resonance imaging was 9 months. A significant difference in the frequency of grades I and II was observed between age groups (<20 years, 13.0%; ≥20 years, 69.6%; P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACL injury was more severe, and morphological recovery with conservative treatment was poorer among younger patients than among adults.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu Rosai Hospital, Minami-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihara
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult