[In situ suture repair procedure of knee dislocation with multiple-ligament injury at acute stage].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the method and the short term clinical effectiveness of in situ suture repair procedure of knee dislocation with multiple-ligament injury at acute stage.


METHODS
From February 2006 to November 2007, 9 patients suffering from single knee closed dislocation with multiple-ligament injury underwent open in situ suture repair procedure with non-absorbable thread and managements of other combined injuries simultaneously. Nine patients included 6 males and 3 females, aged 34-52 years old. The injured knees were left side in 4 cases and right side in 5 cases. Injuries were caused by traffic accident in 8 cases and heavy-weight crushing in 1 case. EMRI and arthroscopic examination showed that all patients suffered from the avulsion injuries of anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament. The time from injury to operation was 4 to 7 days with an average of 5.1 days.


RESULTS
No bacterial arthritis occurred after operation. Subcutaneous ligated fat occurred and cured after symptomatic treatment in 2 cases, other incisions healed by first intension. All patients were followed up 12 months. At 12 months postoperatively, 2 patients' flexion range of the suffering knees lost 10 degrees when to compared with normal knees, and the range of motion was from 0 to 125 degrees. The Lysholm knee scores were 83-92 (average 86.3), the results were excellent in 3 cases and good in 6 cases. The posterior drawer test and anterior drawer test were one-degree positive in 3 cases respectively; the Lachman tests were one-degree positive in 5 cases, lateral stress tests were negative in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
In situ suture repair procedure of knee dislocation with multiple-ligament injury at acute stage has the advantages such as reliable fixation, simultaneous management of other combined injuries and satisfactory short term effect.
Ye
Jingbing
J
Department of Orthopaedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
Luo
Dahui
D
Fu
Weili
W
He
Xin
X
Li
Jian
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D031221:Knee Dislocation / Q000601:surgery*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery