Abstract
Aims: The results of surgical repair and reconstruction of knee dislocations were reviewed at average follow-up of 32 months. Methods: Twenty-one patients with 22 knee dislocations presented between 1994 and 2001. There was one vascular and one common peroneal nerve injury. Eight (38%) patients were treated in the acute period (< 14 days), the remainder were late reconstructions. The patients were evaluated at mean follow-up of 32 months (11 to 77). This included ROM measurement, clinical and instrumented ligament laxity testing. Posterior stress view with 10kg weight was used to evaluate the PCL reconstruction. Function was evaluated using the IKDC chart, the Lysholm Score and the Tegner Activity Level. Results: The mean Lysholm score in the acute group was 87 (range 81 to 93) and in the delayed group 75 (range 53 to 100), the mean Tegner activity rating was 5 in the acute group and 4.4 in the delayed group. IKDC assessment revealed no differences between the two patient groups. Instrumented testing of knee stability indicated better results for ACL reconstructions performed in the acute phase but no difference in the outcome of PCL reconstruction. There was no difference in loss of knee movement between the two groups. Conclusions: Good function can be obtained in the operatively treated knee dislocations at 1–7 years. Although the differences were small, the outcome in terms of overall knee function, activity levels and anterior tibial translation were better in those knees reconstructed within two weeks of injury.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
