Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments of the knee, particularly a ropelike structure in the center of the knee that helps maintain the normal stability. Unfortunately, a torn ACL does not heal and the knee will typically continue to be unstable (shifts or gives way) during sports that require pivoting, changing direction (cutting), jumping, or landing. Even with restriction of risky activities, living everyday life without reconstructing the ACL places abnormal stresses on the meniscus of the knee resulting in tears and accelerated degeneration of the cartilage and arthritis. The diagnosis of an ACL tear is usually made on physical examination, though an MRI can be helpful to demonstrate the tear as well as other injuries to the meniscus and cartilage. ACL tears are becoming increasingly more prevalent in young athletes.