ACL tears, in which the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee is ruptured, are on the rise in youth athletes. In children and adolescents with this injury, there are special considerations for having surgery to repair it. In this episode, Dr. Shevaun Doyle is joined by fellow HSS pediatric orthopedic surgeons Dr. Peter Fabricant and Dr. Daniel Green. Together, they discuss why ACL tears are happening more and more often in younger athletes, what parents should know about the injury and choosing a surgeon, and how quickly kids can return to sports. They also share why choosing a specialty hospital can make a big difference in a child’s outcome.

Timecodes:

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

02:20 why ACL tears are happening more often in young athletes

04:50 what is a growth plate and why does it matter

06:33 whether ACL surgery is safe for children

07:40 considerations specific to ACL surgery in younger patients

09:50 about the effectiveness of the surgery

12:45 what type of grafts are used for pediatric ACL surgery

14:34 nonsurgical options for treatment

17:27 the importance of finding a specialty hospital

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An ACL tear, which is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, is a common injury among athletes. Repairing it often involves an ACL reconstruction surgery, in which a new ACL is created from a tissue graft. In this episode, Dr. David Altchek is joined by fellow HSS orthopedic surgeons Dr. Thomas Wickiewicz and Dr. Moira McCarthy. Together, they discuss what goes into choosing the best type of graft for each patient, as well as the role of donor grafts. They also explain recovery times after an ACL reconstruction surgery and when to expect getting back to playing sports.

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With increased competitiveness and greater demand on athletes of all ages, physicians are seeing an uptick in injuries affecting the UCL, or ulnar collateral ligament, which is inside the elbow and helps to stabilize the elbow joint. In this episode, Dr. David Altchek is joined by fellow HSS orthopedic surgeons Dr. Joshua Dines and Dr. James “Beamer” Carr, who are both experts in shoulder and elbow surgery and have experience caring for professional athletes. Together, they discuss Tommy John surgery, which repairs the UCL and is often needed by baseball players and other athletes who play sports that require throwing. This episode also delves into best practices to consider for athletes at every level – high school, collegiate and professional – and provides case study examples as part of the discussion.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

01:53 case study of a high school baseball pitcher

04:14 when to consider a repair

04:41 difference between repair versus reconstruction

06:07 rehabilitation time after repair or reconstruction

07:37 explaining the biology of repair and reconstruction

08:43 case study of a college baseball pitcher

11:54 adding a brace to stabilize elbow

13:20 recovery time before returning to sports

14:57 case study of a professional baseball pitcher

18:19 role of PRP injections

18:42 weighted balls and increased injury risk

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