title: Primary repair of knee dislocations: results in 25 patients (28 knees) at a mean follow-up of four years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the outcomes of knee dislocations treated with primary repair and an early rehabilitation protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 1 Trauma Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with knee dislocation referred to a single surgeon for care between 1994 and 2002 were included, for a total of 27 patients with 30 knee dislocations. Twenty-five patients (28 knees) were evaluated by an independent observer at a mean of 48 months (13-82 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent primary repair of all injured ligaments using a consistent technique and early rehabilitation protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition to range of motion and stability assessment, Lysholm and Tegner scores were used to evaluate outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean post-operative Lysholm score was 89.0. Range of motion analysis for the 22 unilateral dislocations available for examination showed a mean extension loss of 1.9 degrees and mean flexion loss of 10.2 degrees , with a mean arc of motion of 119.3 degrees . Overall, the knees were found to be clinically stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary repair of ligaments coupled with an early rehabilitation program provides comparable outcomes to published results of ligament reconstruction. Primary repair of ligaments in the dislocated knee should be considered as an effective option in the trauma population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. b.owens@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Brett D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neault
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Busconi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D031221:Knee Dislocation / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome