BACKGROUND: The MCL is the prime medial stabiliser of the knee and is a commonly injured structure which leads to valgus instability of the knee. OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyse differences in recovery of knee motion and muscle function over one year follow up in the isolated MCL and combined ACL-MCL injured knee. We hypothesized that combined ACL-MCL injuries lead to greater knee motion and muscle function deficits at 1 year. METHODS: Isolated MCL (Group I) or combined ACL-MCL injuries (Group II) from 2006-2010 were included. Those with a previous MCL injury, injury to contralateral limb or presenting 2 weeks post-injury were excluded. At certain outpatient follow up intervals, we recorded pre-determined parameters of knee function. Follow-up was at weeks 2, 6, 12, 26, 52. RESULTS: The cohort included 82 patients (54 males:28 females) with a mean age of 32 (range 16-56). Group II showed a deficit in Total Range of Movement (TROM) and flexion at 6 month follow up (p < 0.05). Group II showed an extension deficit at week 2 (p < 0.05). The Peak Torque Deficit (PTD) and Average Power Deficit (APD) improved for quadriceps and hamstrings across all follow up intervals (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a TROM and flexion deficit at 6 months in group II, resolving by 1 year. There was no difference in PTD or APD in either group.
BACKGROUND: The MCL is the prime medial stabiliser of the knee and is a commonly injured structure which leads to valgus instability of the knee. OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyse differences in recovery of knee motion and muscle function over one year follow up in the isolated MCL and combined ACL-MCL injured knee. We hypothesized that combined ACL-MCL injuries lead to greater knee motion and muscle function deficits at 1 year. METHODS: Isolated MCL (Group I) or combined ACL-MCL injuries (Group II) from 2006-2010 were included. Those with a previous MCL injury, injury to contralateral limb or presenting 2 weeks post-injury were excluded. At certain outpatient follow up intervals, we recorded pre-determined parameters of knee function. Follow-up was at weeks 2, 6, 12, 26, 52. RESULTS: The cohort included 82 patients (54 males:28 females) with a mean age of 32 (range 16-56). Group II showed a deficit in Total Range of Movement (TROM) and flexion at 6 month follow up (p < 0.05). Group II showed an extension deficit at week 2 (p < 0.05). The Peak Torque Deficit (PTD) and Average Power Deficit (APD) improved for quadriceps and hamstrings across all follow up intervals (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a TROM and flexion deficit at 6 months in group II, resolving by 1 year. There was no difference in PTD or APD in either group.