Wockhardt Hospitals Blog

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are becoming increasingly common in the young active individual. MRI has also contributed significantly to the early diagnosis of these injuries. Treatment of ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries in the child and young adolescent remains controversial. This is especially so in the case of small children whose skeletons are yet to mature.

Any treatment plan must consider an assessment of the patients’ physical maturity, level of functional instability and identification of associated injuries. While a trial of non operative treatment may still be upheld by some, most reports of non operative treatment have demonstrated poor results. The natural history of the ACL deficient knee is one of recurrent episodes of giving way with resultant multiple meniscal tears and early degenerative arthritis.

The Hamstring tendon graft using semi tendinosus and Gracilis tendons or quadruped semi tendinosis graft provides an exceptionally strong and reliable graft. It has the added benefit of being harvested through a small unobtrusive incision. There is no post operative morbidity (as with B.T.B. graft) and the tendons grow back in time.