Objective: To investigate the clinical outcomes of the treatment of knee dislocation with multiple ligaments injuries by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction under arthroscopy and repair of the injured structures of the knee joint.
Methods: From July 2003 to August 2006, there were 24 patients with knee dislocation (19 males and 5 females), with the average age of 42 years (ranging from 20 years to 69 years), whose ACL and PCL were reconstructed under arthroscopy and whose collateral ligaments and other structures of the knee were repaired [8 with injuries of ACL, PCL, medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL); 12 with injuries of ACL, PCL and MCL; 4 with injuries of ACL, PCL and LCL]. There were 1 case with common peroneal nerve injury, 3 with medial meniscus injury and 7 with lateral meniscus injury. Every patient had single knee dislocation. The outcome was measured from the following aspects: range of the knee, complication, clinical improvement and Lysholm scoring.
Results: Twenty-four patients were followed up for 11 months to 36 months, with the average time of 25 months. Eleven patients (45.8%) recovered to the normal sports level and 13 (54.2%) patients' knee function improved significantly so that they could walk by themselves. Lachman test, anterior drawer test and posterior drawer test were negative in 24 patients. The side-to-side difference was less than 5 mm in 24 patients. There were 4 patients who had slight knee stiffness. One patient's feeling and sports function of the general peroneal nerve improved to the normal level. Lysholm scale of the knee function was 41.8 +/- 4.3 preoperatively and 87.0 +/- 6.0 postoperatively (P < 0.05). The movement ranges of the knee were (87.5 +/- 12.5) degrees preoperatively and (125.0 +/- 9.2) degrees postoperatively (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Reconstructing the ACL and PCL and repairing other structures of the knee is an effective method to treat dislocation of the knee.