[Injuries of the cruciate ligament in children caused by sports accidents].

From 1982 to 1990, 87 knee arthroscopies were performed on children aged 13 years and younger, following post-traumatic haemarthrosis. Damage to anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments was found in more than 1/3 of these cases. The injury to the actual anterior cruciate ligament occurred more often than the injury associated with avulsion fracture of the tibial eminences. It was found that almost all of the ruptures to the actual anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments occurred proximally. Hence, if haemarthrosis occurs in children, arthroscopy should be performed as a diagnostic and therapeutic measure. Surgery must follow the complete rupture of the actual ligaments and dislocated fracture of the bony insertions. The outcome of these operations on children is very satisfactory.