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Management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in skeletally immature adolescents

  • Knee and ACL
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in skeletally immature adolescents are bein diagnosed and reported with increasing frequency. Nonoperative management of midsubstance 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.

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Shelbourne, K.D., Patel, D.V. & McCarroll, J.R. Management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in skeletally immature adolescents. Knee Surg, Sports traumatol, Arthroscopy 4, 68–74 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01477256

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01477256

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