INTRODUCTION
The 2023/2024 football season witnessed a significant increase in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among professional players across various leagues, with ten from the English Premier League alone and the trend seems to be continuing into the 2024/2025 season. ACL injury is one of the most devastating injuries for an athlete, specifically in professional football, where sudden directional changes and intense physical contact are frequent. Several high-profile players have fallen victim to ACL injuries in recent seasons, raising questions about the impact of excessive match fixtures and competitions on player’s health and the long-term effects on their careers.
RISING ACL INJURIES: A GROWING CONCERN
During the 2023/2024 football season, numerous players across major European leagues and international tournaments suffered ACL injuries, from goalkeepers to Strikers; unmasking the devastating impact of ACL injury across football’s spectrum. Prominent names such as Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal, Netherlands), Gavi (Barcelona, Spain), Neymar Jr. (Al-Hilal, Brazil), Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England) amongst others, all faced long-term layoffs due to ACL ruptures.
Interestingly, it is quite rampant in Women’s Sports; to illustrate, between 25 and 30 Players available for an entire squad missed the Women’s World Cup last summer because of ACL tears. As the 2024/2025 season unfolds, several players have also succumbed to similar injuries early on, reflecting a worrying pattern.
In 2022, FIFA’s decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar during the middle of the season compressed the 2022/2023 club calendar, which led to subsequent seasons. This development unsurprisingly has led to fewer breaks for players, leaving them with minimal recovery time between competitions. Furthermore, the growing commercial demands on clubs to participate in international tours, particularly in pre-season, often cause players to compete in high-intensity matches before they are of full fitness and physically ready for the new season.
Such excessive match schedules put significant strain on the body, particularly on the knees, which are most vulnerable to ACL injuries. Fatigue from overplaying can lead to poor muscle coordination, which, when combined with the rapid movements and changes in direction required in football heightens the risk of ligament damage.
Physiologically, the lack of rest periods, combined with intense physical exertion, increases the likelihood of overuse injuries, or in some cases reoccurrence. Overexertion can weaken the ACL, which helps stabilize the knee joint. Football players often perform quick changes in direction, jumping, and sudden stops – movements that place enormous strain on the ACL. Without sufficient recovery time, the ligament can tear, leading to months of rehabilitation and, in some cases, surgery.
THE IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE MATCH FIXTURES
The growing intensity of football schedules, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen major football leagues compress seasons to accommodate delayed competitions. Additionally, with the introduction of new competitions, such as the UEFA Conference League, and UEFA Nations League, and extended formats in existing ones, the tight schedules can lead to insufficient recovery time, increasing the risk of injuries, including ACL tears.
1. Increased Match Frequency: The 2023/2024 season featured a high density of matches in domestic leagues, like the UEFA Competitions and the FIFA Club World Cup, which have added even more fixtures. Players often participate in domestic league matches, cup competitions, international qualifiers, and tournaments such as the Euros, World Cup, and Nations League, sometimes within a short time frame. According to UEFA, players could face over 60 matches in a single season, leading to physical fatigue and an increased likelihood of injuries.
2. Intensity of Play: The competitive nature of football requires players to perform at their highest levels consistently. The added pressure of competing for positions in clubs and national teams can lead to overexertion, which is a significant risk factor for ACL injuries.
EFFECTS ON PLAYERS’ CAREERS
The ramifications of ACL injuries extend beyond the immediate physical impact. Players often face lengthy recovery periods that can last from six months to over a year. Affected players are often unable to compete at the highest level during this time, potentially missing out on crucial career moments, transfers, or contract renewals. Additionally, returning from an ACL injury does not guarantee that the player will regain their previous performance levels. Some players struggle with confidence, mobility, and fitness post-recovery, which can hinder their long-term careers. This downtime can lead to:
1. Physical Limitations: Players may return to the pitch not fully recovered, leading to potential long-term complications. Studies indicate that players who have suffered ACL injuries are at higher risk of future injuries, including re-injury of the same ligament.
2. Mental Health Issues: The psychological impact of injury can be significant. Players may experience anxiety and fear of re-injury, which can affect their performance on the field.
3. Career Longevity: Repeated injuries can shorten a player’s career, affecting not only their earning potential but also their legacy in the sport. Clubs may be hesitant to invest in players with a history of serious injuries, impacting their career trajectory.
LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND PLAYER WELFARE
Regulatory bodies, such as FIFA and UEFA, have established guidelines to promote player welfare. The FIFA Medical Regulations emphasize the need for clubs to implement comprehensive injury prevention strategies, including proper training regimens and recovery protocols (FIFA, 2024). Additionally, the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations require clubs to maintain a standard of player care, including managing workload to reduce injury risks. Under the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, clubs are required to provide adequate medical care and rehabilitation for injured players.
The legal frameworks surrounding player safety are crucial, as they hold clubs accountable for the welfare of their players. Failure to adhere to these regulations could result in penalties, affecting a club’s reputation and financial standing. In England, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 also applies, ensuring that employers (in this case, football clubs) take reasonable steps to protect employees (players) from injury. However, the enforcement of these protections in the context of competitive sports, where financial pressures to field star players often outweigh health concerns, remains a challenge.
Additionally, FIFPRO, the global Players’ union, has repeatedly raised concerns about the volume of fixtures and the physical toll it takes on players. In its 2021 Player Workload Monitoring Report, FIFPRO recommended that governing bodies consider reducing the number of matches per season to protect player welfare, emphasizing the need for “a human-centered approach to workload management.”
RECOMMENDATION
Some might argue that athletes are ordinarily meant to compete and push themselves to the pinnacle of their physical limits, thus they know best how much to manage their physical conditions seeing as they are professionals, that does not in all fairness justify the current “condition of work” they are put into.
A comprehensive approach to managing player workloads is necessary to address the rising number of ACL injuries. Organizing bodies like FIFA, FA, other regional bodies like UEFA, CAF, CONEMBOL, and domestic leagues should take immediate steps to reduce the physical toll on players by limiting the number of matches each player can participate in within a season. This can be achieved by introducing player caps for matches, ensuring athletes have ample time for recovery between high-intensity fixtures, and most importantly, this gives rise to other “squad players” to be able to participate and equally have a decent number of game-time under their belt.
Additionally, FIFA being the umbrella body could introduce an increase in the registered first-team squad size to allow for more rotation and less reliance on key players. A larger squad would provide coaches with more flexibility to rest players without compromising team performance. This would complement the recent increase in match substitutions, which has been a crucial development in reducing fatigue-related injuries. The move to allow five substitutions per game has shown tangible benefits, helping clubs manage player fitness and reduce injury risks. However, further refinement of match scheduling and workload distribution is essential to protect the health and careers of players.
In addition, breaks could also be introduced during games, while this might lead to less playing time in the actual 90-minute duration, it can be complemented during the additional time after the normal 90-minute mark has been played. This was seen in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where water breaks were introduced, which has since been adopted by other leagues to cushion the effect of the harsh weather and re-energize the players.
CONCLUSION
The increase in ACL injuries among football players from the 2023/2024 season to the current 2024/2025 season underscores the critical need for a reevaluation of match scheduling and player management. Excessive match fixtures and the demands of competitive play are placing unprecedented stress on athletes, leading to detrimental effects on their careers and overall well-being. As the football community grapples with these challenges, a concerted effort is required to prioritize player safety through robust legal frameworks and effective injury prevention strategies.
The current framework does not adequately address the cumulative impact of excessive match fixtures on long-term player health. Without systemic changes, the careers of top players will continue to be jeopardized by injuries such as ACL tears, potentially depriving the sport of its brightest talents.
REFERENCES
Bourke, H. E., O’Neill, R., & Valiant, J. The risk of future injuries following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in professional athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine, 15(3), 225-232. (2023).
Case studies on ACL injuries from the 2023/2024 football season, sourced from The Guardian, BBC Sport, and Sky Sports
FIFA, “Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,” 2023.
FIFA Medical Regulations: Guidelines for the protection of player welfare. (2024).
FIFPRO, “Player Workload Monitoring Report,” 2021.
Hawkins, R. D., Hulse, M., & Thomas, A. Injury risk in professional football: A retrospective analysis of player match exposure and injury occurrence. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(10), 619-625. (2023).
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (United Kingdom).
López-Miñarro, P. A., et al. (2023). The psychological impact of ACL injuries on professional football players: A systematic review. International Journal of Sports Psychology, 54(1), 1-12.
UEFA, “Medical Regulations,” 2022.
UEFA. Player workload and injury prevention: Recommendations for clubs and players. (2023).
World Health Organization (WHO), “Global Research on ACL Injuries,” 2022.
1. Cleats increase risk of tearing ones ACL… Proven and documented in scientific journals of note (over 30 authors), but kept from the public. It is a lie of omission!
2. Cleats increase risk of concussion….. Proven by Newton 3rd law for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Would you rather get tackled wearing roller skates or cleats? Hits are greater with cleats therefore increasing the risk of head trauma/concussions. We bounce off each other wearing roller skates where cleats we DRIVE thru the player.
3. Proven research shows we tear our knees more on artificial turf than natural grass, but we still run our children out there (high school and college football) on the artificial turf experiment. Small example of proof by Jason L. Dragoo ⁎ , Hillary J. Braun, Alex H.S. Harris Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University. Or; Galvin J. Loughran, BS*,Christian T. Vulpis, BSJordan P. Murphy, MS, David A. Weiner, MD, Steven J. Svoboda, MD, Richard Y. Hinton, MD, MPH, PT, Dave P. Milzman, MD. Investigation performed at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Our children are the guinea pigs in this experiment. Are parents made aware of this danger and sign a release?
Yes; football is dangerous. Some dangers are inherent; and like cleats some dangers are capable of being negated!
NOW THAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION KNOWS WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IN YOUTH SPORTS? Call me and I will help you.
The following is a tiny sample of proof.I have much much more! If you do not have a science background you may not understand all the wording. Call me with your questions and I will be gracious. Dr. Sheldon Wernow (904-537-9210).
I can prove (by DIRECT EVIDENCE) that the NFL, NFL Players Assoc., Nike, and Under Amour are all aware that cleats are dangerous but keep it hidden from the public.
A small sample of scientific proof…..
· 2010, the American Journal of Sports Medicine
Footwear Traction and Lower Extremity Joint Loading
John W. Wannop, Jay T. Worobets, PhD, and Darren J. Stefanyshyn, PhD
From the University of Calgary, Human Performance Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology,Calgary Alberta, Canada
Conclusion: Increased shoe traction significantly increased ankle and knee joint moments during a V-cut. These changes could have an effect on ankle and knee joint injury.
Clinical Relevance: Shoes with decreased traction could be used in sports to reduce the joint moments in the knee and ankle and potentially reduce injury…..
Look at the Army of highly respected Doctors and centers of higher education in the next journal article that agree; cleats increase the risk of tearing your ACL. CLEATS REMOVE THE KNEE SAVING ABILITY TO SLIDE AND THEREFORE THE KNEE TEARS BECAUSE THE FOOT IS NAILED TO THE GROUND BY CLEATS. Rarely see a gurney go out on the ice in ice hockey.
· A consensus group comprising doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists and certified athletic trainers met in Hunt Valley, Maryland in 1999 to discuss the “epidemic” of ACL injuries. The risk factors were examined independently in order to determine the primary factors involved. The same group of researchers met again in Atlanta, Georgia in January 2005 to re‐evaluate the identified risk factors:
Letha Y. Griffin,*†1 MD, PhD, Marjorie J. Albohm,2 MS, ATC, Elizabeth A. Arendt,†3 MD,
Roald Bahr,†4 MD, PhD, Bruce D. Beynnon,†5 PhD, Marlene DeMaio,†6 CAPT, MC, USN,
Randall W. Dick,7 MSc, Lars Engebretsen,4 MD, PhD, William E. Garrett, Jr,†8 MD, PhD, Jo A.
Hannafin,†9 MD, PhD, Tim E. Hewett,10 PhD, Laura J. Huston,†11 MSc, Mary Lloyd Ireland,12MD,Robert J. Johnson,5 MD, Scott Lephart,13 PhD, ATC, Bert R. Mandelbaum,14 MD,
Barton J. Mann,†15 PhD, Paul H. Marks,16 MD, Stephen W. Marshall,†17 PhD,Grethe Myklebust,4 PhD, Frank R. Noyes,18 MD, Christopher Powers,†19 PhD, Clarence
Shields, Jr,20 MD, Sandra J. Shultz,†21 PhD, ATC, Holly Silvers,22 MPT, James Slauterbeck,†5MD,
Dean C. Taylor,23 MD, Carol C. Teitz,†24 MD, Edward M. Wojtys,†25 MD, and Bing Yu,†26 PhD
From the 1Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic, Atlanta, Georgia, 2OrthoIndy, Indianapolis, Indiana, 3
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 4
OsloSports Trauma Research Center, University of Sport and Physical Education, Oslo, Norway,
5Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont,
6Department of Orthopaedics, Bone and Joint/Sports Medicine Institute, Naval Medical Center,
Portsmouth, Virginia, 7NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, 8
Department of Orthopaedics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina,
9Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, 10Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical
Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 11Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute Medical Center East, Nashville,
Tennessee, 12Kentucky Sports Medicine Clinic, Lexington, Kentucky, 13Neuromuscular Research
Laboratory, UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 14Santa Monica
Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group, Santa Monica, California, 15American Orthopaedic
Society for Sports Medicine, Rosemont, Illinois, 16University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 17Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill,Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 18Cincinnati Sportsmedicine Research & Education Foundation,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 19Department of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, California, 20Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Westchester, Los Angeles,
California, 21Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina,
Greensboro, North Carolina, 22Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research
Foundation, Santa Monica, California, 23TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, 24U of W Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 25MedSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 26Division of Physical Therapy,
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
“foot fixation”, which occurs when excessive resistance to rotation or “rotational traction” prevents the shoe from moving freely during twists, pivots and cuts. Foot fixation leads to the development of high forces in the knee during rotational movements and is believed to be a factor in the aetiology of knee injury
· The effect of playing surface on the incidence of ACL injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association American Football Jason L. Dragoo ⁎ , Hillary J. Braun, Alex H.S. Harris Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA,
2010 Journal of Sports Medicine
Results: The rate of ACL injury on artificial surfaces is 1.39 times higher than the injury rate on grass surfaces. Non-contact injuries occurred more frequently on artificial turf surfaces (44.29%) than on natural grass (36.12%).
Conclusions: NCAA football players experience a greater number of ACL injuries when playing on artificial surfaces.
· Incidence of Knee Injuries on Artificial Turf Versus Natural Grass in National Collegiate Athletic Association American Football: 2004-2005 Through 2013-2014 Seasons
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
First published online April 17, 2019
Galvin J. Loughran, BS*,Christian T. Vulpis, BSJordan P. Murphy, MS, David A. Weiner, MD, Steven J. Svoboda, MD, Richard Y. Hinton, MD, MPH, PT, Dave P. Milzman, MD
Investigation performed at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
Conclusion: NCAA divisions (II and III) also showed higher rates of ACL injuries during competitions on artificial turf versus natural grass.
My question is what ever happened to using mice and animals in experiments, now we are using human beings to experiment with artificial turf and this experiment has caused more injury to these human guinea pigs. Do they need to be told they are Guinea pigs and sign a waiver or has the world changed or are they just a bunch of dumb …….
· Lambson et al (1999) studied the relationship between the rotational resistance of shoes and the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears among 3119 high school football players. Shoes with cleats were associated with a significantly higher injury rate, compared with other shoe types.
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
· Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
Letha Y. Griffin, MD, PhD, Julie Agel, MA, ATC, Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC, Elizabeth A. Arendt, MD, Randall W. Dick, MS, William E. Garrett, MD, PhD, James G. Garrick, MD, Timothy E. Hewett, PhD, Laura Huston, MS, Mary Lloyd Ireland, MD, Robert J. Johnson, MD, W. Benjamin Kibler, MD, Scott Lephart, PhD, ATC, Jack L. Lewis, PhD, Thomas N. Lindenfeld, MD, Bert R. Mandelbaum, MD, Patricia Marchak, ATC, Carol C. Teitz, MD, and Edward M. Wojtys, MD
Higher levels of friction between the shoe and the surface are generally associated with better performance but a higher injury risk.
Again, much more Journal proof which I will share in the future. I do not want to bore you.
But the most important published Ph.D. is the one I will call Dr. Cleats for now. He is a renowned expert on cleats at a prestigious University and is the scientist whom the NFL would consult about the dangers of cleats. In one of the journal articles under conflicts of interest it states Dr. Cleats is a spokesman for the NFL, so the NFL knows cleats are dangerous. His works speak to the fact cleats increase the risk of ACL tears. Dr. Cleats introduced me to Nike and Under Amour, so they know cleats are dangerous and I will share this under my section alternatives to cleats. Again, Dr. Cleats works show cleats increase the risk of tearing one’s ACL and a fact the NFL knows, Nike knows and Under Amour knows!
Do players and their agents know cleats add risk to a dangerous game?
Daunte Fowler Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Dante Fowler Jr., the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, tore his ACL on Friday when he went down less than an hour into the first day of rookie minicamp, the team announced. Fowler is expected to miss the entire 2015 season. The defensive end’s left knee buckled during an 11-on-11 drill. He dropped to the ground, grabbed his leg as he rolled from side to side, and eventually got helped off the field. Offensive tackle Watts Dantzler, who was engaged with Fowler when the DE went down, said he didn’t know what happened to cause the injury. “I really honestly have no idea,” Dantzler said. “I was just kicking, got a punch on his shoulder, and he just went down. I don’t really know exactly what happened. I feel terrible about it.” Fowler has not yet signed his rookie contract. “My weight shifted one way, my foot got caught in the dirt,” said Fowler…. Not a signed contract and lacing up cleats!!! Not a word of CLEAT! And the cleats performed like they should nailing him to the supporting surface, taking away his natural ability to slide!
Do football experts know the dangers of cleats?
Odell Beckham Jr. The non-contact knee injury that cost Odell Beckham Jr. more than half of Sunday’s Super Bowl of 2022 win over the Cincinnati Bengals is believed to be a torn ACL, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapaport reported Monday. Such an injury would mark Beckham’s second ACL tear to the same left knee, Go to YouTube and hear the play call of a NON CONTACT ACL tear and the announcers not one word of Cleats!!
Does the NFL Players Association know cleats increase the risk of tearing the ACL?
Yes… Sean Sansiveri is their executive who introduced me to Dr. Cleats.
Is there an alternative to cleats? Answer: 1. the Swivel Cleat shoe, 2. the Retractable Cleat, 3. the Basketball shoe.
Remember, football is entertainment. I love football, but admit it has become more than entertainment! Are NFL, College, and High School players still entitled to be made aware of the risks like we do in open heart surgery, cancer drugs, and insulin? We are talking about full disclosure!
But talking about alternatives to cleats does tell how long the NFL has kept the dangers of cleats a secret and what they have done about it……Answer: they have known since 1960’s and have slow walked this for over 60 years keeping their lie of omission from the public. And I am not talking cure, I am talking FULL DISCLOSURE so a player or parents can make his own decision to take the risk and lace up cleats!
o Swivel Cleat Shoe -Bruce M. Cameron, Otho Davis The swivel football shoe: A controlled study: Fixation of the foot through rigid cleating is a primary factor in the production of football knee and ankle injuries. The swivel shoe principle developed in 1962 was moved forward with Hanley’s cleat- less heal. Then a 360 degree turntable was added to the forefoot. Over 350 different designs were made over 6 years. It was successfully tested in 1969. Many respected authors quote this research which states the swivel cleat worked. No one knows why it was not adapted? US3816945A – Swivel cleat shoe – Google Patents. Slow walk new design of cleats knowing in the early 1960’s cleats are dangerous and keeping the dangers of cleats a secret. Google 1920’s cleats and they have hardly changed; tell me something that has not changed in 100 years. King Henry the 8th haberdashers invented cleats and they have not changed much since, for the sake of safety.
o Retractable Cleat:
This is a long story of which I am the inventor. It is in the beta form. The engineers say “it shows proof of concept.” It pivots to one side and works with vector math. It has a set screw which one can dial in the amount of pressure it would take to pivot (retract). Dr. Cleats (most important point ironically spokesman for the NFL whose published works say cleats are dangerous) introduced me to Under Armor and then Nike. Both companies know cleats are dangerous! A lie of omission.
o Court (Basketball) Shoe:
SHOE-SURFACE TRACTION OF CONVENTIONAL AND IN-FILLED SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL SURFACES
Martyn Shorten1 , Bret Hudson1, 2 and Jennifer Himmelsbach1 1BioMechanica LLC, Portland, Oregon, USA. 2 University of California, Davis, California, USA
Each of the six shoe types demonstrated adequate slip resistance on dry, in-filled surfaces so an athlete’s shoe selection could be based on minimizing resistance to rotation……………the uncleated basketball shoe (A) produced the lowest average peak moment resisting rotation (19 N m) and the lowest average traction coefficient (0.82).
Let’s compare popular trillion dollar collision industries; Automobile verses NFL when it comes to Performance vs. Safety. The Auto Industry (Ralph Nader Unsafe at any speed 1960’s) opted for Safety…seat belts, air bags, crumple zones. Are you lawyers going to let your/our children and grandchildren tear their knees wearing dangerous (Performance) cleats or do something about it?
Everyone knows the game of football is dangerous…… You got your leg bitten off at the beach because the red flag was not put out when sharks were sighted. Should one be told of this increase risk (sharks in the water) to an activity we know is dangerous like swimming in the ocean? Should one be told of the increased risks of cleats tearing the ACL? Lie of omission! Should you be told the floor at Macy’s was mopped wet? You know floors are dangerous….
Although I am mainly talking about ACL tears we should also consider cleats being involved in concussions/CTE. Why did the attorney’s in the helmet lawsuit not include cleat manufacturers in their lawsuit as cleats have a fair effect on the brain (Newton’s 3rd law of physics) while being tackled? We DRIVE thru the opponent while tackling. Did those attorneys commit malpractice or was it a lie of omission that stopped them?
What are the long term damages of an ACL tear? Answer: Premature Osteoarthritis.
The Long-term Consequence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscus Injuries: Osteoarthritis – L. Stefan Lohmander, P. Martin Englund, Ludvig L. Dahl, Ewa M. Roos, 2007
The Long-term Consequence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscus Injuries: Osteoarthritis
At 10 to 20 years after the diagnosis, on average, 50% of those with a diagnosed anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus tear have osteoarthritis with associated pain and functional impairment: the young patient with an old knee.
Thank you for reading,
Dr. Sheldon Wernow
sheldon.wernow@gmai