Repair versus reconstruction in acute posterolateral instability of the knee.

Acute posterolateral corner injuries of the knee are rare and, when present, are frequently associated with concurrent ligament injury, neurovascular damage, or fractures of the femur or tibia. Early surgical treatment has been shown to be superior to delayed and nonoperative treatment of multiligamentous knee injuries. Historically, repair has been advocated. High-quality studies comparing repair versus reconstruction have shown that reconstruction yields superior results with respect to failure of the construct and similar outcomes with respect to patient satisfaction. Our preferred technique for reconstruction of the acute posterolateral corner with reinforcement is described.