A Clinical Study on Ligamentous Injuries of the Knee

Kim, Kwang Hoe; Choi, Il Yong; Choi, Choong Sik

Abstract

It has been well known that the knee joint is burdened on motion and weight bearing and structurally, it is more frequently injuried than other joints. Injuries to the ligaments of the knee joint are of frequent occurrence because of the increasing traffics and popularity of sports. It seems to be impotant to study on the mechanism of Injury, method of physical examination and treatment of the Iigamentous injuries of the knee. The purpose of this paper is to get accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. 68 cases of ligamentous injuries in 65 patients who were admitted and treated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Hanyang University Hospital from May, 1975 to April, 1979 have been reviewed. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The ligamentous injuries of the knee were more prevalent in male 4.9 times than female; and frequently occured in 20 to 30 decades (60%). 2. Traffic accident was the most common cause, and the most frequent injury associated with the ligament injuries of the knee was fracture. 3. Medial collateral ligament was ruptured most frequently and its tibial attachement was the most common site of the rupture. 4. Frequently, lateral collateral ligament was detached from the fibular attachment, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments were ruptured through their substances. 5. There were 3 cases of isolated cruciated ligament injury, one was anterior and others were posterior. 6. Excellent or good result was obtained in 77.3% by operative treatment and in 93.3% by nonoperative treatment. 7. Early repair (under two weeks) gave much better results than late repair.