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ACL tear in a 9 year old girl
ACL Injuries
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears in children can be particularly devastating. Their young knees are still growing and to remain active, it needs the ACL to impart it stability. Dr Kalra has had the privilege of treating these young and active patients for nearly 10 years. He has published and lectured on these injuries and has done several of these very challenging surgeries.
Chondromalacia Patella
Knee Pain
Some adolescents may have debilitating pain in the front of their knees. This pain can last for several years. Fortunately most of these patients have benign conditions that can be treated very well with physical therapy alone. In some recalcitrant cases, more investigations are needed to find out more. Tilting of the knee cap (patella) due to a tight structure around it, may sometimes be responsible. Surgery to release this ligament can help in select cases, although this is controversial as some patients experience only minimal relief with this technique. If there is cartilage involvement, cartilage repair surgery may be needed.
Meniscus Tears
Meniscus Tears
Meniscus is a shock absorber in the knee that protects the actual cartilage. When torn in kids, surgical repair is almost always recommended to restore the native anatomy in young patients. A sports medicine trained surgeon will have different kinds of techniques and tools at her/his disposal to treat this condition.
Cartilage injuries
Cartilage Injuries
Cartilage injuries in kids are fortunately rare. However, these happen from time to time and can be hard to diagnose. When they do get these, it’s imperative that these are treated diligently and to the fullest extent possible.
8Y F with congenital dislocation
Patellar Instability
Patellar dislocations can be seen in pediatric and adolescent age groups. These may occur due to either trauma like being hit on the side of the knee while paying sports, or more commonly, its due to underlying congenital abnormality. Dr Kalra advocates guided physical therapy for most cases but in select patients who need surgical intervention, he has performed both simple ligament repairs and complex reconstructions on several patients.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
OCD
Sometimes, due to unknown reasons, a part of the bone may lose it blood supply. This can cause pain or eventually the fragment to be unstable and chip off inside the knee. OCD’s may be stable or unstable and its critical to accurately make this distinction for optimal outcomes.
Growth plate fracture
Fractures
Fractures through the growth plate are very common in children. Fortunately, most are simple ones that heal up very well with time. However, some may need surgery for anatomical healing and full return to function.