The Prevention of Posterior Displacement of Tibia During Treatment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Using Modified Quengel Hinge

Lee, Eun Woo; Kang, Soo Yong; Lim, Byung Ki

Abstract

In the treatment of posterior cruciate ligament injury, posterior displacerrient of tibia might be occured because of the direction of gravity due to weight of lower leg. To prevent this problem several methods have been introduced, but not settled yet. Therfore the author tried to solve this problem by applying Quengel brace that was firstly described by Mommsen in 1922 and perfected by Jordan using the correction of flexion contracture of the knee in hemophiliacs. But owing to the development of some problems in original hinge for prevention of posterior displacement of tibia after posterior cruciate ligament injury, we modified the design of the hinge that more effective anterior traction force should be operated on tibia. The authors applied Quengel brace including original and modified hinge to 21 cases of posterior cruciate ligament injury between June 1983 and May 1986. The followings were obtained. 1. By modification of the hinge, more effective anterior traction force operated on tibia without pressure sore or joint narrowing. 2. On clinical application of modified Quengel brace, posterior displacement of tibia were prevented effectively.