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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2014; 18(05): 489-497
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1389266
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Pediatric Knee: Diagnosis and Management of Ligament Injuries

Helmut Wegmann
1   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
Sebastian Tschauner
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
Georg Singer
1   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
Robert Marterer
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
Robert Eberl
1   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
Erich Sorantin
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
28 October 2014 (online)

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Abstract

In the last few decades, sports injuries in pediatric and adolescent athletes have increased dramatically, with ∼ 38 million young athletes participating in organized sports annually in the United States. Starting at the age of 2 years, an increase of the incidence of knee injuries until adulthood with a peak at 6 and at 13 years of age has been observed. Due to a physiologic laxity of the ligaments, ligament injuries are uncommon in these patients, but they are getting more frequent. In the growing knee, open physis are the points of minor resistance. Therefore apophyseal injuries of the pediatric knee are more common. Diagnostics and treatment of ligament injuries of the pediatric and adolescent knees are challenging. This article presents an overview of ligament injuries in the pediatric and adolescent knee, their diagnostic work-up, and their treatment in the growing patient.

Keywords

pediatric - adolescent - knee - ligament injury - diagnostic
 

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