Knee Ligament and Meniscus Injuries Associated with Ipsilateral Diaphyseal Femoral Fractures

ABSTRACT

One hundred and ninety-four consecutive patients with two hundred and one diaphyseal femur fractures were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the frequencies, types and the results of treatments for the associated ipsilateral knee ligaments and menisci injuries from Oct. 1990 to Feb. 1997 at Eulji Medical Center. Fifteen patients had associated ipsilateral knee ligament injuries. There were eleven(73.3%) males and four(26.7%) females with an average age of 35.7(17-68) years. Thirteen(86.7%) patients were injured by traffic accident. Ten patients were followed for average of 38 months(12-73 months). There were five(33.4%) partial and two(13.3%) complete tears of anterior cruciate ligaments, three(20.0%) partial and four(26.7%) complete tears of posterior cruciate ligaments, one(6.7%) partial and four(26.7%) complete tears of medial collateral ligaments, one(6.7%) complete and three(20.0%) partial tears of lateral collateral ligaments, five(33.3%) tears of medial menisci and four(26.7%) tears of lateral menisci. There was no relationship between specific ligament damage and the cause of the injury or level of fracture. Better range of knee motion and HSS knee score was obtained when both the femur and ligament injuries were surgically managed. The invention of the MRI and the development of arthroscopic techniques have made it easy to diagnose and take care for ligament injuries. Early diagnosis and proper treatment on ruptured ligaments and tom meniscus combined with diaphyseal femur fractures seem to be important for good prognosis.