720-777-0123
- Your Visit
-
Research & Innovation
It starts with a Q:
For the latest cutting-edge research, innovative collaborations and remarkable discoveries in child health, read stories from across all our areas of study in Q: Advances and Answers in Pediatric Health.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Surgery
Healing the whole athlete
Our pediatric experts can tell families a lot about their child's diagnosis and the treatment to come. One thing they can't often tell them: how they will feel.
That's why we connected a family who has been through ACL reconstruction surgery with a family who's been there – to answer questions, to shed light and to offer hope – from injury diagnosis to reconstructive surgery to rehabilitation. Conversations heal. Follow their journey on the following pages.
Meet the families
Our new family
Erin tore her ACL during soccer practice in 2018. She knows she's out for the season, but she and her mom Carla want to ensure Erin fully heals before getting back on the field so she can continue playing the sports she loves.
Our experienced family
When Carolyn tore her ACL during a tournament in 2017, she feared that it could be career-ending. Her parents Mary and Tim still remember her initial devastation. Now, they're all looking forward to Carolyn living out her soccer dreams.
The ACL surgery journey
ACL injury and treatment
It's never easy to learn your child has a sports injury that may require surgery. Learn how our families worked through difficult decisions for Carolyn and Erin's surgeries.
ACL surgery recovery and rehab
ACL injury recovery is different for every athlete, but it helps to hear from someone who has been there and got back on the field. Carolyn shares advice and encouragement for the challenging times of recovery and rehabilitation.
"Why not take advantage of the research that shows the best recovery?"Mary, Carolyn’s mom
Additional pediatric sports resources
Browse more stories from patients who inspire us every day by overcoming any obstacle.
Whether you're an athlete, a coach or a parent of an athlete, we have advice to help you succeed.
Our Sports Medicine Center leads the region in state-of-the-art treatment for young athletes.
Partnership with the University of Colorado School of Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where many of our physicians and care providers serve as faculty.