Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

Intoduction

In a new article published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, the knee function of ACL-injured children (<13 yrs) was evaluated to be excellent for most of the non-operated children in a 2-year follow-up.

How well are non-operated ACL injured children performing after their serious knee injury? This was one of the key research questions for PT and PhD candidate Håvard Moksnes. 

Any prospective cohort study has so far evaluated functional knee outcomes following a non-operative treatment algorithm in skeletally immature children.

In the Norwegian long-term study, 46 children, aged 12 years and younger, were examined at baseline and subsequent by yearly follow-ups using:

single-legged hop tests and clinical examinations over a minimum period of minimum 2 years.

What are new findings?

This is the first study to prospectively investigate the functional outcomes of a non-operative treatment algorithm in skeletally immature children after an ACL injury

- At the latest follow-up, 78% of the children are still not reconstructed

- They perform well in clinical hop tests and strength outcomes (no asymmetries)

- 91% is physically active on a regular basis, but 38% chose to reduce participation in pivoting activities

This study indicates that a non-operative treatment algorithm with delayed ACL surgery in children can provide adequate knee function with low risk of secondary injuries.

The main conclusion from this work is:

ACL injured skeletally immature children may remain physically active and show excellent performance in functional tests following a non-operative treatment algorithm.

The present study, led by Håvard Moksnes, was conducted at the Norwegian Research Centre for Active Rehabilitation (NAR), Orthopaedic Centre, Ullevål University Hospital and The Norwegian Sports Medicine Clinic (NIMI). Co-authors on this work were Lars Engebretsen, Ingrid Eitzen, and May Arna Risberg.