ABSTRACT
Background: cruciate ligament consists of the anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] and posterior cruciate ligament [PCL] and they go from the femur to the tibia. The cruciate ligaments function is mainly to stabilize the knee and these ligaments have a risk to be injured in the athletes as well as non-athletes
Objective: address the prevalence of cruciate ligament injuries and its association with different types of injuries among Northern Border University students, Arar, KSA
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of Northern Border University students in Arar City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the academic year 1439-1440. The students received the questionnaire to complete it. The parameters included in the questionnaire included age, sex, cause of cruciate ligament injury as during football playing, motor car accident, side and type of injury, type of treatment whether surgical treatment, physiotherapy or medical treatment
Results: This study reported the prevalence of cruciate ligaments injury among the studied Northern Border University students in Arar city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was 5.7%. The age of the studied ACL injury cases ranged from 18 to 30 years with mean age [+/- SD] was 23.0 +/- 4.2 years. Most of cases [98.6%] were males. Playing football was the most common cause by 78.9% followed by motorcar accidents 7%, fall from stairs 5.6%, swimming 4.2% and fall from height 2.8%. As regards the side of the injured cruciate ligament, 60.6% had anterior cruciate ligaments injury, 8.5% had posterior cruciate ligament injury, and 18.3 % had injury in both sides. In the majority [54.9%] of cases, ACL tear was complete; partial in 38.0%. 14.1% received medical treatment, surgical treatment and physiotherapy by the same percent 32.4%, medical treatment and physiotherapy 15.5%. As regards outcome of treatment, this study reported 74.6% of patients become good and stable, 23.9% still complaining and 1.4% suffering from disability
Conclusion: This study reported the prevalence of cruciate ligaments injury among the studied Northern Border University students in Arar city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was 5.7%. Most of cases [98.6%] were males. Playing football was the most common cause by 78.9% followed by motorcar accidents 7%. As regards outcome of treatment, this study reported 74.6% of patients become good and stable, 23.9% still complaining and 1.4% suffering from disability