Anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee in athletes

Abstract

Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee should be suspected, when the knee twists with a snap or giving-out. Magnetic resonance imaging is worthwhile especially in connection with a fresh hemarthrosis, since any associated injuries may influence treatment methods and schedules. Clinical decisions for athletes are furthermore dependent on the sport and sometimes also on the training phase. It pays to centralize the treatment to experienced units, in which the outcome of surgical operations is exceedingly good. Training programs have been developed for the prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee, especially for those pursuing sports causing a heavy load to the knee.