Anterior cruciate ligament tear in a 7-year-old athlete.

We present the case study of a 7-year-old boy with an initial partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Initially, this patient was treated conservatively due to his age and immature skeletal structure. He returned to competitive sports, but reinjured the knee resulting in a complete ACL tear. The purpose of this paper is to outline the incidence, mechanism of injury, treatment and prevention of ACL injuries in the pediatric population. Evaluation of the injury and treatment options, including complex reconstruction will be presented via a case study approach and review of the literature. The focus of this review for treatment of ACL tear was in those younger than 14 years.