Abstract
Post-traumatic knee arthritis can cause malalignment and severe disability depending upon the extent of injury. Despite young age of the patient, joint replacement may be needed to restore alignment and function when neurovascular structures and the extensor mechanism have been spared.
The types of injuries that are of main concern can be categorised as: articular crush, condylar split, shaft involvement, ligamentous deficiency or a combination of these. Implant choices depend upon the severity of the bone or soft tissue involvement and would fall into 3 main options: 1.) resurfacing type; 2.) modular type with or without osteotomy; and 3.) modular varus- valgus constrained or rotating-hinge type with or without osteotomy. Patello-femoral options include: patellar resurfacing or patelloplasty; patella tendon graft in patellectomised knees; and repair or allograft of the extensor mechanism.
Good or excellent clinical outcomes have been appreciated in the majority of such cases treated over the past 20 years using these guidelines.
The abstracts were prepared by Mrs Dorothy L. Granchi, Course Coordinator. Correspondence should be addressed to her at PMB 295, 8000 Plaza Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060, USA.
