Single-Center Long-Term Results of Popliteal Artery Blunt Trauma Management Following Knee Dislocation - A Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Injury to the popliteal artery after knee dislocation, if not promptly diagnosed and properly treated, can have devastating results. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the diagnostic and the treatment protocol we use, as well as provide long-term outcomes for a series of patients treated in our tertiary hospital, emphasizing on the importance of ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement as an integral component of the diagnostic approach. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all admissions to our hospital trauma center between November 1996 and July 2023, with a diagnosis of knee dislocation and the presence or absence of concomitant arterial injury resulting from blunt high-energy trauma, was conducted. Before 2006, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and/or computed tomography angiography (CTA) were part of the diagnostic approach (group A). After 2006, the ABI was used as a first-line test to diagnose arterial damage (group B). The Tegner and Lysholm scores were chosen to assess patients' postoperative impairment between groups, taking also into account the presence or absence of vascular injury. The Mann-Whitney U test and a univariate analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis of scores. RESULTS: Overall, 55 patients were identified, and 21 of them (38.2%) had injuries to the popliteal artery, all of which were treated with a reversed great saphenous venous bypass. Out of the 21 patients, 4 (4.3%) developed compartment syndrome, which was treated with fasciotomies, and 1 leg (1.8%) was amputated above the knee. With no patients lost to follow-up, all but one (95%) of the vascular repairs are still patent, and the limbs show no signs of ischemia after a mean follow-up of 6 years. The Tegner and Lysholm score means were similar between groups A and B and independent of the presence of vascular injury and the diagnostic protocol used. Interestingly, an ABI below 0.9 proved to be predictive of arterial injury. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of awareness for the presence of popliteal artery injury should exist and an ABI measurement should be routinely performed in the management of all cases of knee dislocation. This way, fewer patients will undergo unnecessary CTA scanning, and hardly any popliteal artery injuries can go missing, as suggested by our study.

Congenital dislocation of the knee complicated with bilateral hip dislocation: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Congenital dislocation of the knee is characterised by excessive knee extension or dislocation and anterior subluxation of the proximal tibia, and this disease can occur independently or coexist with different systemic syndromes. Nevertheless, significant controversy surrounds treating this disease when combined with hip dislocation. This paper presents a case of a 4-month-old patient diagnosed with bilateral hip dislocation combined with this disease. The study discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment methods and reviews relevant literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of a 4-month-old female infant with congenital dislocation of the right knee joint, which presented as flexion deformity since birth. Due to limitations in local medical conditions, she did not receive proper and effective diagnosis and treatment. Although the flexion deformity of her right knee joint partially improved without treatment, it did not fully recover to normal. When she was 4 months old, she came to our hospital for consultation, and we found that she also had congenital dislocation of both hip joints and atrial septal defect. We performed staged treatment for her, with the first stage involving surgical intervention and plaster orthosis for her congenital dislocation of the right knee joint, and the second stage involving closed reduction and plaster fixation orthosis for her congenital hip joint dislocation. Currently, the overall treatment outcome is satisfactory, and she is still under follow-up observation. CONCLUSIONS: Early initiation of treatment is generally advised, as nonsurgical methods prove satisfactory for mild cases. However, surgical intervention should be considered in cases with severe stiffness, unresponsive outcomes to conservative treatment, persistent deformities, or diagnoses and treatments occurring beyond the first month after birth.

Congenital knee dislocation: a rare and unexpected finding.

Congenital knee dislocation is a rare condition of unknown aetiology. It could be associated with syndromes or may occur as an isolated entity. The severity of the deformity determines the method of treatment. Treatment options range from conservative casting to surgical correction. The case presented is of a newborn with an isolated grade II dislocation treated with serial casting. On follow-up at 2 years, the patient had a good outcome, with full range of motion and independent mobility.

Knee joint dislocation: overview and current concepts.

Knee joint dislocation is a relatively uncommon injury but its management is important because of the associated high risk of vascular, neurological and multi-ligamentous knee injuries. Clinicians must be aware that not all knee dislocations are diagnosed on plain X-rays; a high index of suspicion is required based on clinical evaluation. Multidisciplinary specialist care is required in all cases to achieve best outcomes. Early one-stage or multiple staged ligament repair and reconstruction offer better outcomes, but most patients have some long-term functional limitation. This article provides insights into the epidemiology and management of this injury and its devastating effects.

Treatment of medial-sided injuries in patients with early bicruciate ligament reconstruction for knee dislocation.

PURPOSE: In knee dislocation with bicruciate ligament and medial side injury (KDIIIM), treatment method of medial side injuries is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of non-operative treatment of proximal and midsubstance and operative treatment of distal avulsion medial collateral ligament (MCL) ruptures in patients with early bicruciate reconstruction. METHODS: One-hundred and forty-seven patients with a knee dislocation and bicruciate ligament injury (KDII-KDV) were identified. Sixty-two patients had KDIIIM injury. Of these, 24 patients were excluded and 13 were lost to follow-up. With a minimum of 2 years of follow-up, IKDC2000 (subjective and objective), Lysholm and Tegner scores and stress radiographs were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were available for follow-up: 18 had a proximal or midsubstance grade-III MCL rupture (proximal MCL group) and 7 had a distal MCL avulsion (distal MCL group). In the proximal MCL and distal MCL groups, respectively, median IKDC2000 subjective scores were 80 (range 57-99) and 62 (range 39-87), and median Lysholm scores were 88 (range 57-99) and 75 (range 40-100). The median medial opening (side-to-side difference) was 2.4 mm (range 0.1-9.2) in the proximal MCL group and 2.5 mm (range 0.2-4.8) in the distal MCL group. CONCLUSION: We found acceptable recorded outcomes in patients who underwent non-operative treatment of proximal and midsubstance grade-III MCL rupture and operative treatment of distal MCL avulsion with early bicruciate ligament reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Combined ACL-PCL-Medial and Lateral Side Injuries (Global Laxity).

The multiple ligament injured knee is a complex problem in orthopedic surgery. These injuries may or may not present as acute knee dislocations, and careful assessment of the extremity vascular and neurological status is essential because of the possibility of arterial and/or venous compromise, and nerve injury. These complex injuries require a systematic approach to evaluation and treatment. Physical examination and imaging studies enable the surgeon to make a correct diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. Knee stability is improved postoperatively when evaluated with knee ligament rating scales, arthrometer testing, and stress radiographic analysis. Surgical timing depends upon the injured ligaments, vascular status of the extremity, reduction stability, and the overall health of the patient. The use of allograft tissue is preferred because of the strength of these large grafts, and the absence of donor site morbidity.

Results of Treatment of the Multiple Ligament Injured (Dislocated) Knee.

Knee dislocations leading to multiligament knee injuries are associated with a wide variety of bony, ligamentous, soft tissue, and neurovascular injury patterns. Numerous management strategies have been proposed including nonoperative treatment and surgical repair or reconstruction. In recent years, an emphasis has been placed on anatomic repair and reconstruction principles, which have shown superior outcomes compared with older techniques. However, despite these advances, clinical outcomes continue to vary widely, with many patients experiencing chronic pain, stiffness, loss of range of motion, instability, and failure to return to work or sports. The purpose of this chapter is to review clinical outcomes following combined anterior and posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and posterolateral corner injuries sustained during a knee dislocation. Understanding the available treatment options and reported outcomes will allow surgeons to individualize management to address each patient's specific injury pattern and functional goals.

Knee dislocation and associated injuries: an analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank.

PURPOSE: Knee dislocations (KDs) are potentially devastating injuries, leading to loss of function or limb in often young patients. This retrospective database review aims to determine the relative incidence and risk factors for KDs presenting to North American Level I and II trauma centers. METHODS: The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) was retrospectively interrogated using ICD-9-CM codes to identify KDs between 2010 and 2014 to derive KD incidence. KDs were stratified by age, sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), drug and alcohol use, injury mechanism, open vs. closed KD, vascular injury and fracture. Each co-variate was tested against different mechanisms of injury, using Chi-squared tests and risk adjusted analyses to derive risk factors for KD. The same calculations were done for secondary outcomes (vascular and neurological injuries, compartment syndrome, amputation, and mortality). RESULTS: A total of 6454 KDs met the inclusion criteria (18/10,000 admissions). KDs occurred most commonly amongst men, aged 20-39, with an ISS score 1-14 and following motor vehicle collision (MVC). A vascular investigation was performed in 29%, with injury documented in 15% of KDs and 10.8% receiving a vascular procedure. Associated fractures were observed in 41.4% of KDs. Open injuries in 13.6%. Neurological injury documented in 6.2%, compartment syndrome in 2.7%, amputation in 3.8% (> 50% had vascular injury) and 2.8% died. MVC was the most common mechanism of injury (p < 0.001), significantly more common in young, male patients, associated with higher ISS and lower GCS, especially when drugs or alcohol were involved (p < 0.0001). Being male, having a vascular injury or open KD were all risk factors for compartment syndrome, amputation and neurological injuries. CONCLUSIONS: KDs are rare injuries, but their relative incidence may be increasing. Young, male patients involved in MVCs are risk factors for KDs and their associated injuries, such as neurological injuries, amputations and compartment syndrome. Vascular injury occurs at a frequency of around 15%. The findings of the current study may guide future research and help to inform clinicians on the expected rates of associated injuries in patients identified to have KD in a trauma center population. It informs regarding risk factors for KD, which may improve diagnosis rates of spontaneously reduced knee dislocations by increasing index of suspicion in high-risk patients and identifies specific links with impaired driving. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Non-surgical management of a tibiofemoral knee dislocation in a patient with sarcoidosis.

This case presents a patient who sustained a knee dislocation, and who due to her diagnosis of sarcoidosis, other comorbidities, and prolonged use of corticosteroids, external fixation and physical therapy were implemented versus soft tissue reconstruction/repair. Research indicates worse functional outcomes with non-surgical treatment, and guidelines on optimising outcomes in this population are lacking. Integrated care of the patient-even when complex injuries and comorbid medical conditions are present-can lead to positive functional recovery, despite previous data. Evidence from related injuries can be successfully adapted in non-surgical management of these injuries, providing general treatment guidelines.

Importance of Early Diagnosis and Care in Knee Dislocations Associated with Vascular Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Arterial injury secondary to acute knee dislocation (KD) is a rare but devastative complication. The aim of this study is to evaluate functional sequelae and factors of poor prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective monocentric series of consecutive KD with acute ischemia by popliteal artery injury was analyzed between 2005 and 2017. The main outcome was the amputation rate. RESULTS: Sixteen dislocations were included. Nine (56%) were due to public road accidents, 5 (31%) were due to falls from height, and 2 (13%) were due to sports injuries. Dislocation had occurred in the posterior location in 8 (50%) cases. Regarding arterial injury, there were 7 (44%) ruptures, 7 (44%) dissections, and 2 (13%) isolated thromboses. Eleven (69%) KDs with vascular trauma were associated with signs of acute ischemia. Revascularization was achieved by anatomical venous bypass in 14 (88%), resection and direct anastomosis in one (6%), and isolated thrombectomy in one (6%). Median time to surgery (time between trauma and vascular repair) was 7 hours (3.25-60.92 hours). Primary revascularization was performed in 12 (75%) cases. In three cases (19%), orthopedic reduction and stabilization were performed first. In one case, (6%) three-step management with vascular shunt at first, then with knee stabilization, and finally vascular bypass was carried out. Stabilization was achieved by using an external fixator in 13 (82%) cases, by open reduction and internal fixation in one case (6%), by ligamentoplasty in one (6%), and by using a long leg cast in one (6%). Fasciotomy was required in 12 (75%) cases. Two patients had early vascular complications, and 2 had early systemic complications. Three secondary transfemoral amputations were performed. Median follow-up duration was 23 months. No secondary amputation was recorded. At the end of follow-up, functional outcomes were evaluated using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS). The median OKS was 30 versus the pretrauma median OKS of 47 (P < 0.00028). No risk factor associated with limb amputation has been highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these results provided indications for therapeutic management of this condition. This study shows poor functional outcomes because of severity of vascular lesion in patients with orthopedic trauma but with healthy arteries.

Review article: Isolated proximal tibiofibular joint dislocation.

Proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) dislocations are relatively rare injuries and this paper provides an up-to-date review and practical management approach for the assessment and management of these cases. Isolated PTFJ dislocations are a rare injury, accounting for less than 1% of all knee injuries. Thus, there does not appear to be a clear consensus on definitive management and post-reduction care in the literature. This paper provides a review of the literature, anatomical analysis of the PTFJ in the dislocated state, and a technique for reduction. In the majority of cases, PTFJ dislocations are an injury that can be identified with simple imaging modalities and treated in the ED with manipulation under procedural sedation.

Evaluación y tratamiento de la luxación congénita de rodilla. Revisión de la literatura / Evaluation and treatment of the congenital dislocation of the knee. Review of the literature

La luxación congénita de rodilla es una patología poco frecuente en la población general, suponiendo un reto para el cirujano ortopédico. Se diagnostica al nacimiento tras las primeras exploraciones, en las que se detecta una hiperextensión de la rodilla. Se clasifica según la severidad de la deformidad en recurvatum, subluxación y luxación. Actualmente no hay algoritmos de manejo consensuados ni evidencias claras acerca del manejo de estos pacientes. El tratamiento de elección inicialmente es conservador mediante manipulación y yesos. La cirugía se indica cuando el tratamiento conservador fracasa, el diagnóstico se alcanza de forma tardía o la deformidad inicial es severa. Las técnicas más frecuentemente empleadas pretenden actuar sobre el tendón del cuádriceps para alargar el aparato extensor y permitir la reducción articular y recuperar la flexión. En cualquier caso, se asocian a mejor pronóstico los casos no asociados a síndromes y aquellos que reciban un tratamiento precoz

Congenital dislocation of the knee is an un-common pathology in general population and therefore it presents a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon. It is diagnosed at birth, when knee hyperextension is detected during the first physical examinations. It is classified according to severity into recurvatum, subluxation and luxation. Currently there is no management algorithm or clear scientific evidence related to the treatment of these patients. Initially, a conservative treatment consisting of manipulation and casting is generally chosen. Surgery is indicated in case of failure of conservative treatment, delayed diagnosis or severe initial deformity. The most commonly used techniques aim at acting on the quadriceps tendon in order to lengthen it and allow joint reduction and improved knee flexion. In any case, both non syndromic and early treated cases are associated with a better prognosis

Knee Dislocation and Multiple Ligament Injuries of the Knee.

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the progress in treatment of knee dislocations and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament knee injuries over the past 25 years. The perspectives of where we were 25 years ago, where we are today, and where we will be in the future will be explored.

Luxacion traumatica aguda de la articulacion tibioperonea proximal: Reporte de un caso y revision bibliográfica / Acute traumatic dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint: case report and review

La luxacion tibioperonea proximal es poco comun, se relaciona con lesiones deportivas, como consecuencia de un trauma en rotacion con el pie en inversion y flexion plantar, la rodilla en flexion y la pierna en rotacion externa simultaneamente. Provoca dolor en la region lateral de la rodilla y la pierna, con arcos de movilidad completos de la rodilla, pero dolorosos. El diagnostico es clinico y radiologico. Es una entidad que pasa inadvertida en el Servicio de Urgencias (60%), con consecuencias funcionales y biomecanicas si no se diagnostica oportunamente. El objetivo es describir la experiencia diagnostica y el tratamiento ortopedico de una entidad inusual en trauma de rodilla. Se presenta a un paciente de 23 anos que sufrio una caida patinando y refiere protuberancia proximal en la cara lateral de la pierna izquierda, edema, dolor y limitacion para extender la rodilla. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Proximal tibiofibular dislocation is uncommon, and it is related to sport injuries as a result of an external rotation trauma with the knee in fully flexed position, and foot pointing inwards and downwards. It causes pain in the anterolateral aspect of the knee, motion is complete but painful. Diagnosis is clinical and radiological. This entity goes unnoticed in the emergency department (60%), with functional and biomechanic consequences if diagnosis is no immediate. The objective is to describe diagnostic experience and orthopedic treatment of an unusual knee condition. We present a 23-year-old patient who fell while skating. He refers a proximal protuberance in the lateral face of the left leg, edema, pain, and limitation for knee extension. Level of Evidence: IV

Management of knee dislocation prior to ligament reconstruction: What is the current evidence? Update of a universal treatment algorithm.

Traumatic knee dislocation is a rare but potentially limb-threatening injury. Thus proper initial diagnosis and treatment up to final ligament reconstruction are extremely important and a precondition to successful outcomes. Reports suggest that evidence-based systematic approaches lead to better results. Because of the complexity of this injury and the inhomogeneity of related literature, there are still various controversies and knowledge gaps regarding decision-making and step-sequencing in the treatment of acute multi-ligament knee injuries and knee dislocations. The use of ankle-brachial index, routine or selective angiography, braces, joint-spanning or dynamic external fixation, and the necessity of initial ligament re-fixation during acute surgery constitutes current topics of a scholarly debate. The aim of this article was to provide a comprehensive literature review bringing light into some important aspects about the initial treatment of knee dislocation (vascular injury, neural injury, immobilization techniques) and finally develop an accurate data-based universal algorithm, enabling attending physicians to become more acquainted with the management of acute knee dislocation.

Simultaneous Ipsilateral Dislocation of the Hip and the Knee: A Case Report.

CASE: A patient was struck by an agricultural vehicle and sustained ipsilateral hip and knee dislocations. Closed reduction of the hip was accomplished in the emergency department; the patient required general anesthesia in the operating room to reduce the knee dislocation. Nonoperative treatment was used for both injuries, with a good long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous ipsilateral hip and knee dislocations are rare and complex injuries that usually result from high-energy trauma. In order to avoid severe neurovascular complications, they need prompt management. Nonoperative treatment followed by an intensive rehabilitation program should be considered as an alternative treatment to surgery in older patients with a low-demand lifestyle.

Managing dislocations of the hip, knee, and ankle in the emergency department [digest].

Dislocation of the major joints of the lower extremities--hip, knee, and ankle--can occur due to motor-vehicle crashes, falls, and sports injuries. Hip dislocations are the most common, and they require emergent management to prevent avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Knee dislocations are uncommon but potentially dangerous injuries that can result in amputation due to the potential for missed secondary injury, especially if they are reduced spontaneously. Isolated ankle dislocations are relatively rare, as most ankle dislocations involve an associated fracture. This review presents an algorithmic approach to management that ensures that pain relief, imaging, reduction, vascular monitoring, and emergent orthopedic consultation are carried out in a timely fashion. [Points & Pearls is a digest of Emergency Medicine Practice.].