Extract
Intrasubstance tears of the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral
structures of the knee, a relatively common injury in adults, are very rare in
children and adolescents. Most injuries of the posterior cruciate ligament in
this age-group are osteochondral avulsions of either the femoral or tibial
attachment1-12.
When nonoperative treatment or primary repair of a torn or avulsed posterior
cruciate ligament fails and a child or adolescent experiences instability,
meniscal damage, and early degenerative changes, the physician is confronted
with a dilemma: continued nonoperative treatment will probably result in
progressive deterioration of the knee, but surgical intervention may cause an
iatrogenic physeal injury.