Baldur Thorolfsson: Youth sports participation after ACL injury
Adolescents who undergo ACL surgery are almost twice as likely as young adults to re-injure their ACL. Adolescents also return to sports earlier, often before they have regained equal muscle strength in both legs. This is shown in Baldur Thorolfsson鈥檚 research, which has the potential to support young ACL patients in decision makings about their future sports careers.
BALDUR THOROLFSSON
Dissertation defense: 12 June 2024 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis:
Research area: Orthopaedics
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical 91探花s
ACL injuries are common among young and active individuals. These injuries have increased among children and adolescents in recent years. Most athletic patients need to undergo ACL reconstruction to return to sports after the injury.
鈥淭here is a debate about how ACL injuries in skeletally immature individuals should be treated. The possibilities for ACL reconstruction in young patients are often complicated by open growth plates,鈥 explains Baldur Thorolfsson, who is now presenting his thesis at the Institute of Clinical 91探花s.
He is a specialist in orthopaedic surgery, treating sports injuries at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Sportsmed, Carlanderska Hospital.
Almost double the risk for youths
What is the focus of your research?
鈥淚 study ACL injuries in children and adolescents. The thesis consists of five studies aimed at examining the outcomes of ACL surgery, rehabilitation, and return to sports in young patients.鈥
What are the key findings?
鈥淭he results show that adolescents have almost double the risk of a new ACL injury compared to young adults. Adolescents report lower self-assessed knee function after ACL reconstruction compared to young adults,鈥 says Baldur Thorolfsson, continuing:
鈥淥ur research also shows that pediatric patients return to sports earlier than adolescents and young adults after ACL reconstruction, often without achieving symmetrical muscle strength and the recommended jumping ability in the operated leg.鈥
鈥淐reating realistic expectations鈥
What practical benefits will this research provide?
鈥淭he findings of the dissertation provide valuable information to both surgeons and physical therapists who treat children and adolescents after an ACL injury. This can help create realistic expectations regarding long-term outcomes. It can even assist in advising these individuals on future sports career decisions.鈥
鈥淩esearch on evenings and weekends鈥
What has been enjoyable and rewarding about your doctoral project?
鈥淚t has been enjoyable and rewarding to show significant differences between the patient groups, and hopefully, this can help patients in the future,鈥 says Baldur Thorolfsson.
And what has been difficult and challenging?
鈥淚t has been difficult to combine research with clinical work at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. When I started the project, I assumed that working at a university hospital would allow me time for research during work hours. That did not happen. Most of the research work has been done in the evenings, on weekends, and during vacation time. That has been the biggest challenge.鈥
Text: Jakob Lundberg