External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations

Purpose: To examine outcomes after surgical treatment of multiligamentous knee injuries (MLKIs) in patients with dislocated versus non-dislocated knees. Methods: Patients who were surgically treated for MLKIs between 2008 and 2021 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: tho...

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Main Authors: Adam V. Daniel, M.D., Taylor A. Johnson, M.D., Katherine F. Druskovich, M.D., Warren A. Williams, M.D., Daniel Miller, M.D., Stanley J. Kupiszewski, M.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X2400213X
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author Adam V. Daniel, M.D.
Taylor A. Johnson, M.D.
Katherine F. Druskovich, M.D.
Warren A. Williams, M.D.
Daniel Miller, M.D.
Stanley J. Kupiszewski, M.D.
author_facet Adam V. Daniel, M.D.
Taylor A. Johnson, M.D.
Katherine F. Druskovich, M.D.
Warren A. Williams, M.D.
Daniel Miller, M.D.
Stanley J. Kupiszewski, M.D.
author_sort Adam V. Daniel, M.D.
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: To examine outcomes after surgical treatment of multiligamentous knee injuries (MLKIs) in patients with dislocated versus non-dislocated knees. Methods: Patients who were surgically treated for MLKIs between 2008 and 2021 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with a frank knee dislocation (KD), diagnosed by radiographs or reduction notes in the emergency department, and those without a frank KD (non-KD). The following patient-reported outcome measures were collected: visual analog scale for pain, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, and Lysholm knee scoring scale. Additional procedures such as revision ligamentous reconstruction and complications such as infection and arthrofibrosis were also obtained. Results: A total of 88 patients (88 knees; 36 KD vs 52 non-KD) were included in the final analysis. This study included 30 female and 58 male patients, and the mean age was 34.3 ± 12.7 years (range, 10-61 years). The mean follow-up period for the patients who did not receive revision surgery was 9.2 years (range, 3.4-15.3 years). There were no differences in age, sex, mechanism of injury, meniscal/chondral injury, or neurovascular status between the groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in visual analog scale, International Knee Documentation Committee, or Lysholm scores. Significantly more patients in the KD group showed higher KD grades (KD III–KD V, 29 [81%] vs 21 [40%]; P < .001), and significantly more KD I injuries were observed in the non-KD group (48.1% vs 11.1%, P < .001). More patients in the KD group underwent staged procedures (69.4% vs 28.8%, P < .001) and had external fixators applied (50% vs 5.8%, P < .001). The overall complication rate was comparable between groups, with no differences in revision surgery or arthrofibrosis; however, the KD group had a higher postoperative infection rate (16.7% vs 1.9%, P = .017). Conclusions: Patients who experienced frank KDs showed an increased odds of receiving external fixation, showed an increased odds of undergoing a staged procedure, had higher grades of injury, and had a higher risk of postoperative infection compared with those without KDs. At final follow-up, no differences in patient-reported outcomes were noted between the 2 groups. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
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spelling doaj-art-7da35836137749d2a95bbd3a9ced96662025-08-20T02:12:14ZengElsevierArthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation2666-061X2025-04-017210107010.1016/j.asmr.2024.101070External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee DislocationsAdam V. Daniel, M.D.0Taylor A. Johnson, M.D.1Katherine F. Druskovich, M.D.2Warren A. Williams, M.D.3Daniel Miller, M.D.4Stanley J. Kupiszewski, M.D.5Address correspondence to Adam V. Daniel, M.D., Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, 60 Columbia St, Orlando, FL 32806, U.S.A.; Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Purpose: To examine outcomes after surgical treatment of multiligamentous knee injuries (MLKIs) in patients with dislocated versus non-dislocated knees. Methods: Patients who were surgically treated for MLKIs between 2008 and 2021 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with a frank knee dislocation (KD), diagnosed by radiographs or reduction notes in the emergency department, and those without a frank KD (non-KD). The following patient-reported outcome measures were collected: visual analog scale for pain, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, and Lysholm knee scoring scale. Additional procedures such as revision ligamentous reconstruction and complications such as infection and arthrofibrosis were also obtained. Results: A total of 88 patients (88 knees; 36 KD vs 52 non-KD) were included in the final analysis. This study included 30 female and 58 male patients, and the mean age was 34.3 ± 12.7 years (range, 10-61 years). The mean follow-up period for the patients who did not receive revision surgery was 9.2 years (range, 3.4-15.3 years). There were no differences in age, sex, mechanism of injury, meniscal/chondral injury, or neurovascular status between the groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in visual analog scale, International Knee Documentation Committee, or Lysholm scores. Significantly more patients in the KD group showed higher KD grades (KD III–KD V, 29 [81%] vs 21 [40%]; P < .001), and significantly more KD I injuries were observed in the non-KD group (48.1% vs 11.1%, P < .001). More patients in the KD group underwent staged procedures (69.4% vs 28.8%, P < .001) and had external fixators applied (50% vs 5.8%, P < .001). The overall complication rate was comparable between groups, with no differences in revision surgery or arthrofibrosis; however, the KD group had a higher postoperative infection rate (16.7% vs 1.9%, P = .017). Conclusions: Patients who experienced frank KDs showed an increased odds of receiving external fixation, showed an increased odds of undergoing a staged procedure, had higher grades of injury, and had a higher risk of postoperative infection compared with those without KDs. At final follow-up, no differences in patient-reported outcomes were noted between the 2 groups. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X2400213X
spellingShingle Adam V. Daniel, M.D.
Taylor A. Johnson, M.D.
Katherine F. Druskovich, M.D.
Warren A. Williams, M.D.
Daniel Miller, M.D.
Stanley J. Kupiszewski, M.D.
External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation
title External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
title_full External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
title_fullStr External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
title_full_unstemmed External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
title_short External Fixator Application, 2-Stage Procedures, and Postoperative Infection Risk Are Higher in Multiligamentous Knee Injuries After Frank Knee Dislocations
title_sort external fixator application 2 stage procedures and postoperative infection risk are higher in multiligamentous knee injuries after frank knee dislocations
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X2400213X
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