Short to Mid-term Outcomes of Single-stage Reconstruction of Multiligament Knee Injury

Abstract

Background: Multiligament knee injury (MLKI) is a complex orthopedic injury leading to the tear of at least two of<br />the major knee ligaments. However, there is no consensus on the optimal management of this debilitating condition.<br />Regarding this, the present study was performed to evaluate the outcomes of single-stage multiligament reconstruction<br />surgery in patients with MLKI.<br />Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 41 consecutive MLKI patients who underwent surgical<br />reconstruction. Objective evaluation of the outcome included active extension and flexion. Furthermore, the subjective<br />evaluation of the outcome was accomplished using the Lysholm scoring scale and International Knee Documentation<br />Committee (IKDC) form in Persian. Postoperative complications were also recorded for all patients.<br />Results: The mean age of the participants was 31.95±7.82 years. In addition, the mean follow-up period and the<br />mean time interval between the injury and surgery were recorded as 36.9±17.8 and 11.5±8.9 months, respectively. The<br />mean Lysholm and IKDC scores were obtained as 86.9±11.5 and 70±18.7, respectively. The mean Lysholm and IKDC<br />scores were not statistically different between the patients who underwent surgery less than 6 months after the injury<br />and those subjected to reconstruction 6 months postinjury (P=0.07 and P=0.3, respectively). Seven patients showed<br />postoperative restricted range of motion, which was resolved with physiotherapy. The only surgical complication was<br />popliteal artery injury.<br />Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the single-stage reconstruction of MLKI provided an acceptable outcome.<br />However, several aspects of this reconstruction, such as the timing of the surgery, still remain to be resolved in future<br />investigations.<br />Level of evidence: IV