ACL surgery 10 years later: an athlete looks back

The decision to proceed with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to treat a torn ACL on a growing child can be difficult. Parents often weigh the pros and cons of surgery versus the risks of a more conservative approach with limited activity. After surgery, they wonder how to best help their child manage the difficult recovery period and return to sports. As with many parenting challenges, there is no single right answer. Nearly 10 years after his ACL surgery, University of Michigan sophomore Gabe Kahn reflects on his story. At the age of 9, Kahn endured a spate of leg injuries that included two broken legs, a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation tested the young athlete, but nearly 10 years later, “I never think about it,” he says. Gabe’s journey as an orthopedic frequent flier started when he broke his leg during a soccer game. After a few weeks in a cast and three months of recovery, he returned to the field, only to break his right leg a second time. Over the next six to eight months, Gabe’s father, an orthopedic surgeon, observed ongoing weakness in the leg. An MRI confirmed a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. After consulting with an adult sports medicine doctor, the senior Kahn weighed his son’s options. A tough decision Conventional ACL surgery would require drilling tunnels through the growth plate (the developing cartilage near the end of long bones), but this can disrupt bone growth. However, delaying surgery posed a...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: ACL All posts Orthopedics Our patients’ stories Sports & exercise ACL tears in young athletes Source Type: news