Anterior cruciate ligament - is this knee injury really bad?

Yes: The anterior cruciate ligament is the main stabilizing ligament of the knee. With acl deficiency the knee will tend to "give-way" with quick stops and starts or changes in direction. Giving way episodes can damage the joint line further and tear meniscal tissues. Without a functioning acl sporting activities should be severely limited. Reconstruction is recommended for the athletically active.

Yes: The anterior cruciate ligament is responsible for maintaining stability of the knee. When this ligament is not functioning correctly it may create a condition that results in increased risk to injury to the meniscus or the articular cartilage. In general i usually recommend reconstruction of this ligament particularly in your age group.