Complete knee dislocation. A follow-up study of operative treatment.

Twenty knee dislocations in 19 patients (one bilateral) occurred over a period of 20 years. The age range was 21 to 65 years, with an average age of 40.8 years. There were two popliteal artery and eight peroneal nerve injuries in the group. All patients were managed by early closed reduction at the scene of the accident or at the admitting hospital. Treatment consisted of 13 acute arthrotomies with complete ligamentous repair, one partial ligament repair, two delayed repairs, and four cast applications. Both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments were torn in each knee surgically examined. In contrast to cruciate injuries in nondislocated knees, avulsion of bone of the PCL was present in 14 of 16 and of the ACL in ten of 16. Complete follow-up study including examination and radiographic evaluation was obtained on 18 knees in 17 patients. Special investigations of 13 with acute complete ligament repair, followed from 12 months to 48 months (average of 24 months), showed loss of joint motion following this injury. Clinical instability was generally not a problem, but chronic pain and discomfort were present in 46%. The average knee diagnostic score was 43. Seventy-seven percent of the patients returned to vigorous sports activities. Early operative repair followed by cast bracing and manipulation at three months (if flexion was less than 90 degrees) is recommended in young, active patients.