Pediatric Knee Injuries - ACL

The knee is a joint where three main bones join: the femur, or thigh bone; the tibia, or shin bone; and the patella, or knee cap. Several ligaments attach to the femur and tibia and give the joint strength and stability. One of these, the ACL, is in the center of the knee and limits rotation and the forward movement of the tibia.

The ACL is most often stretched or torn by a sudden twisting motion — when, for example, the feet are planted one way and the knees are turned another. A child can also injure the ACL by quickly changing the direction in which they are moving; by putting the brakes on too quickly when running; or, when landing from a jump. A woman's body structure and hormones cause more force on the ligaments, increasing the likelihood of injury during sports and athletic activities.

Many ACL injuries can be prevented if the muscles that surround the knees are strong and flexible.

Prevention focuses on proper nerve and muscle control of the knee. Exercises aim to increase muscle power, balance and improve core strength and stability.

The following training tips can reduce the risk of an ACL injury:

• Train and condition year round.
• Practice proper landing technique after jumps. This involves bending your knees to absorb the force and keeping them in line with your feet.
• When you pivot, crouch and bend at the knees and hips. This reduces stress on the ACL.
• Strengthen your hamstring and quadriceps muscles. The hamstring muscle is at the back of the thigh; the quadriceps muscle is at the front. The muscles work together to bend or straighten the leg. Strengthening both muscles can better protect the leg against knee injuries.

Your child's doctor may conduct physical tests and take X-rays and obtain an MRI to determine the extent of your ACL damage. If the ACL is only partially torn, your doctor may prescribe an exercise program to strengthen surrounding muscles and a brace to protect the knee during activity. Your child may or may not need surgery. Surgery can be performed to reconstruct the torn ligament from a piece (graft) of strong, healthy tissue taken from another area near the knee (autograft) or from a cadaver (allograft). If the ACL is completely torn, it may need to be replaced surgically.

Successful surgery tightens your knee and restores its stability, which helps to avoid further injury.

After ACL reconstruction, your child will need to do rehabilitation exercises to gradually return your knee to full range of motion and stability.

You also may need a knee brace temporarily and will probably have to stay out of sports for about six months to a year after the surgery.