Outcomes of Repair and Reconstruction of the Acute Posterolateral Corner Injuries of the Knee Combined with Cruciate Ligaments Injuries.

Background: This study aimed to report objective and subjective knee stability scores for patients who underwent acute repair of avulsed posterolateral corner (PLC) structures or acute reconstruction of midsubstance tears combined with delayed reconstruction of cruciate ligaments.

Methods: A total of 48 sport and vehicle accident traumatic patients were enrolled in a three-year follow-up study. The patients were investigated by clinical exams, subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and stress imaging. All scores were compared between the reconstruction and repair groups.

Results: Subjective IKDC scores were obtained at 83.3±9.6 and 88.3±4.39 for the reconstruction and repair groups, respectively. Only two patients in the reconstruction group had abnormal objective IKDC scores. Based on the Tegner score, 15 out of 18 patients in the repair group and 20 out of 24 patients in the reconstruction group regained their pre-injury functional level. Mean Lysholm scores for the reconstruction and repair groups were estimated at 83.4±8.2 and 88.2±4.1, respectively. Mean lateral joint opening differences between two knees in the reconstruction and repair groups were -0.2±0.1mm and 0.5±0.1mm, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between groups outcomes. We had no failure of treatment at the final follow-up.

Conclusion: Acute intervention within 3 weeks after PLC injuries combined with delayed cruciate ligaments reconstructions showed favorable outcomes. Both repair and reconstruction are effective when deciding based on the type of injury (i.e., avulsion and midsubstance tear).