A Clinical Study on Ligamentous Injury of the Knee

Kim, Poong Taek; Park, Byung Chul; Kim, Ik Dong; Lee, Soo Young; Park, Hie Jin

Abstract

The authors have reviewed 119 cases of ligamentous injuries of the knee in 106 patients who were admitted and treated in the department of orthopedic surgery at Kyungpook National Universty Hospital during the period from 1974 to 1983. Patients were analyzed degree of injuries by clinical test, stress radiogram, double contrast radiogram and arthroscopy depend on the cases. Fifteen cases were treated conservatively and 104 cases were repaired the ruptured ligaments operatively, The results were as follows; 1. Ligamentous injuries of the knee were more prevalent in male 4 times than in female, and frequently occured in 3rd and 4th decade, 57 %. 2. Traffic accidents was most common causes, 77.4 % and athletic injuries was next, 15 %. 3. Medial collateral ligements were most commonly ruptured, 68 cases and its femoral attachment was ruptured most commonly, 32 cases. Single ligamentous rupture was most commonly appeared in medial collateral ligament in 36cases. Combined ligamentous rupture were more common in medial collateral ligaments and anterior cruciate ligaments in 15 cases. 4. On follow up examination, knee joint space was compared with both normal and injured knee. In single medial collateral ligamentous rupture, joint space was opened 0.1 mm more than normal side. In combined lesion of lateral collateral ligaments and both cruciate ligamentous rupture, joint space was opened 2.4 mm more than normal side. 5. Excellent and good results were obtained in 88 cases (81%) by operative treatment and 11 cases (73%) by conservative treatment. Early repair of the ligament, under the 2 weeks, gave much better results than later repair. 6. The results were more successful in single ligamentous injuries (55 cases, 87%) than multiligamentous injuries (38 cases, 68%).