“Registry of Prospective ACL Reconstruction Outcomes in Young Patients”
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is an increasingly common diagnosis in the pediatric and adolescent population due to an increased participation in sports and improved physician awareness and ability to diagnose. Historically, non-operative management with physical therapy, bracing, and activity modification was used to manage ACL rupture in very young patients to allow time for growth before surgery. More recently, improved ACL reconstruction techniques and technology have made ACL reconstruction with autograft the gold standard for treating ACL rupture in young patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes of autograft in adolescent patients by creating a database of prospectively identified patients who undergo ACL repair or ACL reconstruction. This research study will help us better understand graft survival rate, complication rates, and other factors associated with patient outcomes.
“The Pediatric ALL Evaluation and Trial (PALLET): A Randomized, Controlled Trial”
Studies have shown the rising incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children and adolescents. Pediatric patients are at a higher risk of graft failure than adults (3-4% compared to 12-19%) after ACL reconstruction. In the adult population, a growing number of studies have suggested that concomitant reconstruction of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) with the ACL may help lower this risk. However, this has never been studied in adolescent populations. The goal of this randomized, controlled study is to evaluate whether concomitant ALL reconstruction in children undergoing ACL reconstruction will result in a lower rate of graft failure than ACL reconstruction alone.