Long term outcome of early single stage surgery in multi-ligamentous injuries of knee.

BACKGROUD: Multi-ligamentous knee injuries have been a grey area due to unavailability of large scale control trials with a long term follow up. Several studies have documented good results with different protocols of management regarding time of treatment, repair versus reconstruction, choice of graft and sequence of repair. The author wishes to put forward long-term results of early (<6 weeks) single-stage surgery in multi ligamentous injuries.

METHODS: The prospective trial included 29 patients diagnosed with three or more ligaments involved. Patients having fractures involving proximal tibia, distal femur, patella, patients with history of compound trauma to knee, osteochondral lesions, associated neuro-vascular injury & poly-trauma patients were excluded from the study. The patients also underwent AP, lateral & stress skiagrams in addition to a standard 3T MR scan for pre-operative planning and confirmation of diagnosis. The pre & post-operative outcomes were assessed using KSS & Lysholm score. The patients were followed up for two years with clinical examination and stress skiagrams.

RESULTS: The mean increase in knee scores was statistically significant at both 12 months and 24 months (p < 0.05) with mean ROM of 132.8° at final follow-up. Three patients required manipulation under anaesthesia. All patients could carry out their activities of daily living at mean period of 8.2 months. Osteoarthritis was most common complication at 2 years follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The most important aspect of a single stage reconstruction lies in earlier restoration of function with a tremendous decrease in loss of medical expenses, improvement of quality of life and early & improved function in terms of both physical and psychological factors. Better restoration of kinematics from early rehabilitation is probably the factor responsible for the results. Osteoarthritis remains an important follow-up finding.