Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are among the most common sports injuries – especially among children and adolescents involved in competitive sports that require a lot of running, jumping and quickly switching directions. ACL surgery and rehabilitation in a child or teen should account for the fact that the bones are still growing. In this video, a young athlete shares her story, and doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) talk about CHOP's approach to care.

Highlights include:
0:01 Molly’s ACL injury
2:35 Why ACL injuries in youth are different than adults
2:55 Growth plates and why they matter
3:54 CHOP’s ACL experience
4:20 ACL reconstruction techniques
4:46 How we avoid disturbing the growth plates
5:19 Importance of mental recovery and coping
5:47 ACL rehab and other support services
6:35 A focus on young athletes