Acute knee injuries in skeletally immature athletes.

The knee is the body part most commonly injured as a consequence of collisions, falls, and overuse occurring from childhood sports. The number of sports-related injuries is increasing because of active participation of children in competitive sports. Children differ from adults in many areas, such as increased rate and ability of healing, higher strength of ligaments compared with growth plates, and continued growth. Growth around the knee can be affected if the growth plates are involved in injuries. This article discusses fractures, anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries, and meniscal and patellar conditions.