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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 34/7/1134    most recent 0363546505284889v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Halinen, J. Articles by Santavirta, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Halinen, J. Articles by Santavirta, S. Related Collections Reconstruction Arthroscopy Nonoperative Operative

Operative and Nonoperative Treatments of Medial Collateral Ligament Rupture With Early Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

A Prospective Randomized Study

Jyrki Halinen, MD^*,, Jan Lindahl, MD, Eero Hirvensalo, MD, PhD and Seppo Santavirta, MD, PhD

From Jorvi Hospital and the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

^* Address correspondence to Jyrki Halinen, MD, HUCH, Jorvi Hospital, Department of Surgery, Turuntie 150, Espoo, Finland (e-mail: jyrki.halinen{at}hus.fi).

Background: The apparent consensus is that solitary medial collateral ligament rupture can be treated nonoperatively, but treatment of severe combined ruptures of the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament remains controversial.

Hypotheses: Nonoperative and early operative treatments of grade III medial collateral ligament rupture lead to similar results when the anterior cruciate ligament is reconstructed in the early phase.

Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with combined anterior cruciate ligament and grade III medial collateral ligament injuries were randomized into 2 groups. The medial collateral ligament injury was treated operatively in group 1 (n = 23) and non-operatively in group 2 (n = 24). In both groups, the anterior cruciate ligament injury was treated with early reconstruction, using bone–patellar tendon–bone graft and interference screw. Two years postoperatively, knee stability was measured with a KT-1000 arthrometer and Telos valgus radiography and knee extension strength with a Biodex dynamometer and a 1-legged hop test. An International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation form and Lysholm score were completed.

Results: All 47 patients were available for clinical evaluation for a mean of 27 months (range, 20–37 months) after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to subjective function of the knee, postoperative stability, range of motion, muscle power, return to activities, Lysholm score, and overall International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation. The subjective outcome and Lysholm score were good and anteroposterior knee stability excellent in both groups.

Conclusion: Nonoperative and operative treatments of medial collateral ligament injuries lead to equally good results. Medial collateral ligament ruptures need not be treated operatively when the anterior cruciate ligament is reconstructed in the early phase.

Key Words: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) • medial collateral ligament (MCL) • multiligament injury • ACL-MCL • randomized • prospective

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