<p class="source">Source - <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> MedicalNewsToday</a></p><p>For children aged 14 and under, delaying reconstructive surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may raise their risk of further injury, according to a new study by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. If surgery occurs later than 12 weeks after the injury, the injury may even be irreparable.</p><p>ACL injuries have increased among children and young adults in recent years, possibly because of increased participation in high-level sports such as football, skiing, lacrosse, hockey and soccer, all of which place a high demand on the knees, where the ACL is located.</p><p class="hr"></p>