Clinical Study of Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Woo, Young Kyun; Moon, Myung Sang; Huh, Il Oh

Abstract

Evaluation and management of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knee pose several problems. For acute injuries, the essential factors are diagnosis of the ACL rupture and associated injuries, and selection of the appropriate method of the management. Until recently, the frequency of complete disruption of the ACL was though to be less than that of the medial collateral ligament. However, there is little doubt that the ACL is the most frequently torn ligament in the knee. Diagnosis may be made with a combination of tests: Anterior drawer, valgus or varus stress test, Lachman, and pivot shift. If the patients is unable to relax because of pain or fear, examination under the anesthesia should be performed. Treatment can be surgical or nonsurgical. Since the ACL is vital to normal knee function, surgical intervention is advisable in the majority of cases of acute disruption. Authors analyzed the records of 58 cases of acute knee ligament injuried patients treated at the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kang-Nam St. Marys Hospital, Catholic Medical College and Center, from November 1982 to January 1984, with follow-up range from 6 to 20 months. 1. Among 58 cases, 41(71%) had anterior cruciate ligament injury and 39(67%) had medial collateral ligament injury. 2. The causes of injury were mostly traffic accident (77%) and majority of the patients was in their twenties and thirties of age. 3. Among 41 cases of ACL Injury, 5 had isolated anterior cruciate injury, 27 cases (66%) had associated medial collateral injury, 9 (22%) had associated lateral collateral injury, and 7 (17%) had associated posterior cruciate ligament injury. 4. Meniscal injury was found only in 6 cases (15%); 4 medial and 2 lateral menisci. 5. Majority of anterior cruciate injured patients (71%) had more than 5mm joint openning than normal side in valgus or varus stress radiogram with the knee in extension. 6. In all cases of anterior cruciate ligament injured patients, the Lachman test was positive under the general anesthesia, hut anterior drawer test was positive in 80%. 7. In about 90% of the cases, the anterolateral rotatory instability (ALRI) test was positive and this finding was accentuated when the lateral collateral ligament was torn. 8. Among 41 cases, 16 (39%) had failure at the insertion site, 7 (17%) had tibial spine avulsion, and 9 patients each (22%) had tear at the ligament substance level and had grade II sprain. 9. In twenty-three, primary repair was done, in 9, primary intra-articular recopstruction was performed and 9 were treated conservatively. The result was from fair to excellent almost in all cases.