Can a Teenager Have ACL Surgery? Everything Parents and Young Athletes Need to Know

Of course, teenagers can have ACL surgery if they have a complete Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear or persistent knee instability. ACL injuries have been on the rise as more teenagers participate in sports such as football, basketball, cricket, badminton, volleyball, and athletics.

Currently, ACL reconstruction surgery helps restore knee stability as well as the preservation of growth plates in younger patients. If performed by a qualified and knowledgeable orthopedic sports surgeon, ACL surgery can deliver the best possible results and enable your teens to participate in various athletic activities without getting injured.

This text briefly discusses reasons for recommendation to perform surgery, surgical procedures, recovery period, and also highlights important concerns which parents must understand before deciding to go with a treatment.

ACL Injury What is?

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the knee stabilizing ligament that is among four in total. The ACL attaches the upper leg bone (femur) to the lower leg bone (tibia) and limits forward motion and twisting of the knee.

ACL tears commonly result from:

• Abrupt rotation Instant change of direction Landing after a jump and twisting the knee A collision with impact from sports

Teens’ high degree of activity makes them particularly vulnerable

Absolutely, Teenagers and the Surgery!

Definitely. Progress in the area of orthopedic surgery has made the technique of ACL reconstruction suitable for teenagers as well, even ones whose bones continue to grow.

Firstly, the doctor assesses if the adolescent still has open growth plates (epiphyseal plate/s) before selecting the right surgical approach.

To limit the chances of influencing the development of bones, growth-plate compatible approaches are generally chosen.

Can Teenagers Safely Have ACL Surgery?

Yes. Present-day surgical methods are tailor-made for the young, still-growing patient population.

In the old days, surgeons would be cautious about doing operations for teenagers as it was feared that the physes might be damaged.

Currently, there are ACL revision methods which are specially suited for adolescents so as to limit their exposure to the growth plate risk at the same time as effectively reconstructing the knee stability.

You decide to do the procedure taking these points into consideration:

• the adolescent’s age;
• growth plate maturity;
• the extent of damage;
• level of activity;
• any other injury (e.g., meniscus or cartilage) that may be present;

Only after thoroughly analyzing all these criteria the orthopedic specialist would advise any surgery for the teen.

When a Teenager Needs ACL Surgery?

Surgery is mostly advised when the child presents the following scenarios:

A Totally Torn ACL

ACL that is fully torn will very infrequently get better on its own.

Instability of the Knee

If the knee “collapses” over and over both in walking and in games.

Careful Lifestyle

Reconstruction generally helps the teen athletes involved in cutting or pivoting sport very much.

Treatment usually includes:

• Physiotherapy
• Knee brace
• Activity modification
• Strengthening exercises

However, regular follow-up is important because instability may worsen over time.

How Is ACL Surgery Performed in Teenagers?

ACL surgery for teenagers is often done arthroscopically, which means it is a minimally invasive procedure and involves very small incisions.

During surgery:

The surgeon：

• makes 2-3 small incisions in the knee。
• inserts a mini television camera inside through an incision (arthroscope)。 This is done by using arthroscopic equipment。
• removes the damaged ligament。
• makes a new ligament with the help of a tendon graft。
• secures the graft with medical equipment。

Normally, the entire surgery lasts from 60 to 90 minutes, and the patient is taken home either in the same day or the next day.

What kind of graft is being used for teenagers’ ACL surgery?

Some of the grafts your surgeon might use are listed below：

Hamstring Tendon Graft

This is frequently chosen for teenagers to rebuild their ACL ligament because the recovery time is comparatively not much for this type。

Quadriceps Tendon Graft

This tissue offers good graft material. Besides that, it doesn’t usually cause much pain in the donor site。

Patellar Tendon Graft

This kind of graft is a good option especially for older teenagers whose skeletons are almost matured。

Age, maturity, chosen sport, among other factors can decide what type of graft you will end up using。

Postoperative Rehabilitation for Teenagers after ACL Surgery

Teenagers recovering from ACL surgery should understand that getting up to speed again and regaining full physical capability will take time. Their recovery follows a set rehabilitation program.

First two weeks

Things you would do in this phase

• Control the amount of swelling and the pain。
• Use assistance device to walk.
• Do range-of-motion exercises which are mild.

1 3 months

Things you could do

• Strength training
• Exercises improving one’s stability
• Possible increase in joint mobility

The 4th 6th months

• Resuming jogging
• Starting training for particular sports

9 12 Months

There will always be a time to go back to the sport after passing a few stability tests, strength exams, and the likes especially if you’re in competition.

It’s also necessary for the patient to get physiotherapy sessions on time without skipping anything, as it will help you to reach good condition in your knee joints and the ligament itself.

ACL Surgery in Teenagers’ Success Rate and Outcomes

A high percentage of people who undergo the ACL surgery can be back on their feet and doing normal activities, especially going to school, sports, etc. So one can conclude that the success rate of the surgery is quite high.

Advantages one can get after the surgery are:

• Enhancement of the knee joint stability
• Possible decrease of knee injury recurrence
• Owing to better knee condition and physical fitness sports performance is likely to improve
• Mitigation of joint tissue damage, and therefore less risk of long-term issues like osteoarthritis and joint pain from wearing out bones

If one can really stick with his/her physiotherapy routines it will definitely result in better results.

Risks of Putting Off ACL Surgery

Failing to address the ACL tear can cause the following problems:

• Ongoing unsteadiness on the knee
• Damages to the meniscus
• Injuries to the cartilage
• Continuing pain on the knee
• Early on osteoarthritis
• Limited participation in sports

Evaluation sooner or later leads to finding out the preferable moment for the treatment.

Tips for Parents

During the healing period, parents can make a difference, too.

Support your teenager to recover by doing these:

• Go for a doctor who specializes in doing an ACL surgery regularly.
• Be there when the physiotherapy is done
• Keep doing the exercises as told by the physiotherapist.
• Don’t resume sports too early.
• Sleep well and have a good diet
• Support the kid emotionally from start to finish through recuperation.

A long period of getting better gives a much greater chance of recovery.

Conclusion

Teens can safely have their ACLs reconstructed by experienced ortho surgeons. Arthroscopic surgery today, a minimally invasive technique, can save the growth plate during the healing phase while restoring the knee’s stability and allowing the kid to resume their sports and activities.

We recommend making a decision that fits the teens’ age, skeletal maturity, seriousness of the injury and level of activity. It makes sense to diagnose a problem early, get expert surgical treatment and stick to the rehabilitation program in order to have a complete recovery and enjoy your knee for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the most suitable age for performing ACL surgery on teenagers?

Kid having ACL surgery can be done on an adolescent if it is indicated by the doctor.

The time for the operation is mostly based on how far the child has closed their growth plates and severity of the injury rather than on a specific age.

2. Is it safe to have an ACL surgery on a growing child?

Absolutely! In fact, modern growth plate-preserving surgical techniques allow even teenagers to undergo the ACL reconstruction quite safely if their doctor is the one carrying out the surgery.

3. How long will it take for a child to recover after the ACL (knee ligament) surgery?

Babies can be back on their feet in 9, 12 months. However, the length of recovery from the surgery is highly dependent on the state of the individual’s healing and rebuilding of strength.

4. Can a teenager get back to playing sports after ACL surgery?

Absolutely. Provided the surgery goes well, they go through the physical rehabilitation correctly, and the orthopedic surgeon gives them a go-ahead, most teenagers are able once again to play their sports at the former level of involvement.

5. What if a teenager does not have ACL surgery?

The continued knee instability may result in more knee injuries, meniscus tears, cartilage damage, chronic pain, and a higher chance of early arthritis development.

6. Is physiotherapy essential after ACL surgery?

Very much so. Physiotherapy is a mainstay in strengthening the knee, returning it to maximum mobility, improving balance, and restoring knee function. It is a crucial factor in getting the full recovery back and minimizing the dangers of re-injury.