Abstract
We describe a previously unpublished and possibly unrecognised association between injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament and Osgood-Schlatter disease.
Over a two-year period the authors have treated thirty patients with isolated or combined injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament, confirmed with MR1 or examination under anaesthetic/arthroscopy. Five of these had previously suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease as adolescents, leaving them with prominent tibial tuberosities.
We feel there may be a significant association between these two conditions and the importance of this association is twofold: – firstly, at the time of injury the prominent tibial tuberosity impacts first and results in increased posterior translation of the tibia rendering the posterior cruciate ligament more prone to injury – secondly, during examination of the injured knee, the prominence of the tibial tubercle may make a posterior sag sign less obvious thus obscuring the diagnosis unless one is diligent.
We believe that patients who have previously suffered with Osgood-Schlatter disease are vulnerable to posterior cruciate ligament injury and this should be borne in mind whilst examining them following knee injuries.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr R. B. Smith. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the British Orthopaedic Association, Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN.
