A new srudy has indicated that in athletes 14 years of age and younger with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, early reconstruction results in significantly improved outcomes without growth disturbance. A reconstruction done within 12 weeks of injury is defined as early reconstruction. In addition to better function the early intervention also saves money.
The new research was presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) 2010 Annual Meeting by Theodore J. Ganley, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.
It is worth mentioning that timing of pediatric ACL repair is debated. One needs to balance the risk for growth disturbance with early surgery and the risk for further intraarticular damage with delayed repair.
The study finds that delayed ACL reconstruction leads to a significant increase in medial meniscal tears, as well as lateral and medial compartment injury when compared with early repair.
the study has limitation of being from a single center and retrospective nature.
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