Don’t Delay Surgery for Kids’ ACL Injuries

If your young athletes have suffered serious ACL tears, you might not be in a big hurry to take on all the medical bills and appointments that come with it, but according to a new study, you should start the road to recovery as quickly as possible. 

New research was presented to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine in Seattle, and the findings might concern you. According to the study, young athletes between the ages of 8 and 16 who waited more than 3 months to have reconstructive ACL surgery were up to 4.3 times more likely to injure their meniscus, which is the padded cartilage that separates the bones in the knee. 

The study also suggests that young athletes who wait even as little as 6 weeks could be exposing themselves to further risk of meniscus injuries resulting in additional surgeries, physical therapy and more recovery time.

The clear conclusion: don’t put off ACL surgery. If you think your kids have suffered ACL or other knee ligament tears, your best course of action is to see a doctor to begin diagnosis and treatment immediately.   

For more information about knee injuries, visit the knee and leg section of our website, or give us a call today to book an appointment.