Is Early Reconstruction Necessary for All Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is necessary to prevent knee instability (giving way) during sports activities, in particular those that require planting and pivoting-type maneuvers. Episodes of giving way typically occur during athletic activity but can also occur with activities of daily living. In young athletes with an ACL injury, early reconstruction has been advocated to improve their quality of life, by allowing them to return to high-demand sports, as well as to avoid further damage to the knee's articular cartilage and menisci, which often accompanies these episodes of instability.13 Approximately 200,000 ACL reconstructions are performed each year in . . .