Cruciate Ligament Surgery for a 15 year old

[shopgirl1301]

Hi, just found this site and hoping for some advice please:
My son is 15, 16 in January, in March 08 he sustained a cruciate ligament rupture, we have had several hospital visits and the consultant was not keen to operate, he had physio for a couple of weeks and then went back to running, in September he played football with a friend and jumped up and when he came down, his knee "went", back to the hospital we went, his operation is next Friday but my son is really worried about what he reads about the "growth" issues at his age, he is convinced his knee is ok, as he has a very very high pain threshold he wants to carry on as normal and if it goes again, he will rest for a couple of days and go back to sports again, we just need some advice, I am convinced he needs the surgery and he is convinced he doesn't!! By the way he is extremely sporty, wanting to go to sports college next September.
Many thanks.

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
    Thanks for writing in. Cruciate ligament injuries can be of anterior or posterior depending upon which ligament is injured. Most commonly it is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that is injured due to demanding sports like soccer, football, rugby etc. The ACL prevents the tibia from sliding too far forward. The ACL also contributes stability to other movements at the joint including the angulation and rotation at the knee joint.

ACL injury is a problem because this instability can make sudden, pivoting movements difficult, and it may make the knee more prone to developing arthritis and cartilage tears. Athletes often have particular difficulty once they have sustained an ACL injury, to perform common maneuvers such as cutting, pivoting, and sudden turns. Patients may be able to function in their normal daily activities without a normal ACL, but these high-demand sports may prove difficult.
Therefore, athletes are often faced with the decision to undergo surgery in order to return to their previous level of competition.
Treatment involves conservative or surgical management depending upon the severity of injury. As you mentioned, that your son faces repeated attacks of pain not relieved by conservative measures, he is an ideal candidate for surgical reconstruction of ACL. Most patients experience full recovery and resume their previous lifestyle, including professional athletes. However, some patients complain of pain, stiffness and limited motion in the joint for months or years following ACL reconstruction surgery.  Rehabilitation is the important part of treatment. Growth will not be hampered due to surgery.
Best.