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’s 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: Sport participation after pediatric and adolescent ACL injury
Research area: Orthopaedics
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
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.
“There 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,” explains Baldur Thorolfsson, who is now presenting his thesis at the Institute of Clinical Sciences.
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?
“I 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.”
What are the key findings?
“The 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,” says Baldur Thorolfsson, continuing:
“Our 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.”
“Creating realistic expectations”
What practical benefits will this research provide?
“The 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.”
“Research on evenings and weekends”
What has been enjoyable and rewarding about your doctoral project?
“It has been enjoyable and rewarding to show significant differences between the patient groups, and hopefully, this can help patients in the future,” says Baldur Thorolfsson.
And what has been difficult and challenging?
“It 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.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg