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Comparison of Surgical Repair or Reconstruction of the Cruciate Ligaments versus Nonsurgical Treatment in Patients with Traumatic Knee Dislocations

From the Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

* Address correspondence and reprint requests to Martinus Richter, MD, Unfallchirurgische Klinik, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany

Background: Studies of traumatic knee dislocations have failed to provide a consensus regarding the best method of treatment.

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the results after surgical repair or reconstruction versus nonsurgical treatment and to compare the influence of prognostic factors.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients were treated for traumatic knee dislocation. Surgical repair or reconstruction of the cruciate ligaments was performed in 63 patients (repair, 49; reconstruction, 14). In 26 patients, nonsurgical treatment was undertaken.

Results: At an average follow-up of 8.2 years, the mean Lysholm and Tegner scores were 75 and 3.7, respectively. The outcome in the surgical group was better than in the nonsurgical group. The scores were higher in patients who were 40 years of age or younger, who had sports injuries rather than motor vehicle accident injuries, and who had undergone functional rehabilitation rather than immobilization.

Conclusions: Surgical repair or reconstruction of the cruciate ligaments was superior to nonsurgical treatment. Functional rehabilitation was the most important positive prognostic factor. Surgical repair or reconstruction of the cruciate ligaments is mandatory to achieve sufficient stability for functional rehabilitation. In cases of cruciate ligament avulsion, repair with transosseous fixation is a reasonable alternative to reconstruction, provided that it is performed within 2 weeks of trauma.

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