Should my Daughter play or get ACL surgery

by pose008
(New York)

My Daughter is 15 and loves sports. She is a gymnast and wants to do Softball. She injured her ACL and needs surgery but wants to play softball. She made the JV softball team. What does everyone think, can she get a brace and wear it for the season and then get surgery. She is in no pain.

Pose008

Answer:
At 15 years old, the common consensus among most physicians is that an ACL reconstruction is best in order to try to restore the near-normal function of the knee. Over time, an ACL deficient knee that is subjected to athletic activities will wear down faster than one with an ACL. Playing with an ACL tear can cause more problems, with abnormal stress on the cartilage and the joint surfaces. I have seen several high school athletes who finish the season after an ACL tear, and they always have more meniscus damage than what was shown on the original MRI.

If she wants to continue with sports, an ACL reconstruction is something to strongly consider. You should also sit down and talk with your physician about all of the options - get their prognosis for recovery, potential complications if she goes without the surgery, as well as with the surgery, and any other questions you may have.

Bart - SII