Objective To observe the effectiveness of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries treated by stages. Methods Between June 2005 and November 2008, 13 cases of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries were treated by stages, including 9 males and 4 females with an average age of 30.7 years (range, 18-54 years). The dislocations were left knee in 3 cases and right knee in 10 cases. The causes of injury were sports injury in 8 cases, traffic accident injury in 2 cases, fall ing from height injury in 2 cases, and sprain injury in 1 case. The average time from injury to hospitalization was 9 hours (range, 6 hours to 2 days ). Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL) were involved in 8 cases; ACL, PCL, and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in 3 cases; and ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL in 2 cases. The valgus stress testing results of 10 knees were ++ to +++; the varus stress testing results of 5 knees were ++ to +++; all knees showed positive in the anterior or the posterior drawer test and ++ to +++ in Lachman test. The nerve, vessel, MCL, LCL, PCL, meniscus were repaired in the first operation. The functional exercise of knee joint was done after fixation for 3-4 weeks. During the second operation, the ACL was reconstrcted under arthroscopy after the range of motion (ROM) of knee joint was good with anterior instabil ity of knee within 4-6 months. Results All wounds healed by first intention after two operations; no compl ications of infection and compartment syndrome occurred. All cases were followed up 12-60 months with an average of 36 months. Joint effusion of knee occurred in 2 cases at 4 weeks after the first operation and was cured after removal of fluid. At 3 months after the second operation, the results of valgus stress testing and Lachman test were ++ in 1 case, respectively; the results of valgus stress testing, varus stress testing, and Lachman test were + in 1 case, respectively; and others showed negative results. After 12 months of the second operation, the mean flexion of the knee was 123.4° (range, 100-135°), and the mean extension of the knee was 2.3° (range, 0-4°). According to Lysholm evaluation system, 9patients got excellent results, 2 good, and 2 fair; the excellent and good rate was 84.6%. Conclusion It is an effective method in the treatment of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries by stages.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of one-stage arthroscopic reconstruction and strict immobilization for 6 weeks for treatment of knee dislocation. MethodBetween August 2010 and May 2013, 22 cases (22 knees) of knee dislocation were treated with one-stage reconstruction and strict immobilization for 6 weeks. There were 15 males and 7 females, aged 21-54 years (mean, 31.5 years). The left knee and right knee were involved in 8 cases and 14 cases respectively. The disease causes were traffic accident in 12 cases, falling from height in 6 cases, and sports injury in 4 cases. The time between injury and operation was less than 2 weeks in 6 cases, 2-3 weeks in 10 cases, and more than 3 weeks in 6 cases. The results of anterior drawer test, posterior drawer test, and Lachman test were positive in all patients. The posterior displacement of the tibia was more than 10 mm. The results of valgus stress test and varus stress test were positive in 13 cases and 11 cases respectively. The preoperative knee range of motion was (58.2±28.4) °, Lysholm score was 39.7±4.6. All patients had anterior cruciate ligament rupture and posterior cruciate ligament rupture; combined injuries included medial collateral ligament rupture in 11 cases, lateral collateral ligament rupture in 9 cases, both medial and lateral collateral ligament rupture in 2 cases, femoral condylar avulsion fracture in 2 cases, and meniscus injury in 7 cases. No nerve or blood vessel injury was observed. ResultsAll cases obtained primary healing of incision without infection. All the patients were followed up 12-48 months (mean, 27.8 months). At 12 months after operation, the results of the anterior drawer test, posterior drawer test, Lachman test, valgus stress test, and varus stress test were all negative; the knee range of motion increased was significantly to (121.3±7.9) °(t=30.061, P=0.000) ; Lysholm score was 87.2±6.1, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=24.642, P=0.000) . ConclusionsA combination of arthroscopic one-stage reconstruction and strict immobilization for treatment of knee dislocation is a safe and effective method, good stability and joint function can be achieved.