A Comparison of Outcomes after Early and Delayed Reconstruction in the Acute Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Lee, Yong Sik; Lee, Soo Won; Seo, Byung Ho; Kim, Yoon Gi

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study performed to compare degree of joint stiffness and clinical results between early and delayed reconstruction of acute posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-two Patients who underwent PCL reconstruction between March 2008 and October 2011 enrolled this study. We performed transtibial single bundle reconstruction using the allo-achilles tendon in all cases. We divided the patient into two groups, early reconstruction group underwent surgery before a week, delayed reconstruction group underwent surgery after 3 weeks, before 6 weeks. All the patients underwent aggressive joint motion exercise till surgery and enrolled post operative rehabilitation program. We checked posterior drawer stress radiography, range of motion, the Lysholm score, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and the Tegner score to evaluate the results.
RESULTS
At the final follow up the Lysholm score was 92.1 in the early group and 93.8 in the delayed group. All the cases were rated above B (near normal) on IKDC score (p=0.808, p=0.722). The Tegner score was 6.6 in the early reconstruction group and 6.2 in the delayed group (p=0.480), The average of maximum flexion and extension angle was 133.9degrees, 1.4degrees in the early group and 133.6degrees, 1.1degrees in the delayed group (p=0.560, p=0.581), no complication such as deep vein thrombosis or infection, no difference in posterior drawer stress radiography (p=0.750).
CONCLUSION
We could obtain satisfactory clinical results in both the early and delayed reconstruction groups of acute PCL injuries. Therefore, the early reconstruction of PCL performed before a week could be one of the treatment options for acute PCL injury.