Who is affected by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in about 1 out of 3,000 people.1

  • 70% of ACL injuries occur during a sporting activity.1
  • Most ACL injuries occur in people between 15 and 44 years of age.2
  • More women than men have ACL injuries. In sports, women injure their ACLs up to 8 times as often as men.3

Experts do not know the incidence of ACL injuries in children. One study indicated that 1 in 200 children under age 12 has had an ACL injury.4


Author: Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPHLast Updated: May 16, 2008
Medical Review: William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Freddie H. Fu, MD - Orthopedic Surgery
Patrick J. McMahon, MD - Orthopedics

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