关节镜下早期修复重建治疗急性膝关节三联损伤

目的探讨急性膝关节三联损伤(前交叉韧带,内侧副韧带和内侧半月板损伤)采用关节镜早期修复重建治疗的效果。方法 2005年7月～2007年5月,对12例急性膝关节三联损伤采用早期(受伤≤7d)关节镜下手术,取四股半腱、股薄肌腱重建ACL,止点重建或缝合修复治疗内侧副韧带损伤,一期缝合内侧撕裂的关节囊及缝合或切除损伤的半月板。结果手术时间1.5～2.5h,平均1.8h。术后引流量100～250ml,平均200ml。1例患肢麻木酸胀5d后恢复,1例取腱切口以远局部感觉障碍。12例随访12～25个月,平均16.5月,膝伸屈范围正常,外翻应力试验于0°位时10例正常,2例弱(+),30°位时均正常。术后末次随访时膝关节Lysholm评分(82.5±13.8)分,与术前(39.4±15.0)分比较有显著差异(t=3.973,P=0.000)。结论急性膝关节三联损伤早期可以在关节镜下完成ACL重建,同时处理合并损伤,早期恢复膝关节稳定性,创伤小、康复快,值得推荐。     

膝关节后内侧结构损伤合并单一交叉韧带断裂的早期治疗

目的 探讨膝关节后内侧结构损伤合并单一交叉韧带断裂进行早期手术的疗效.方法 2002年1月至2005年12月共治疗12例后内侧结构损伤合并单一交叉韧带断裂患者,其中10例合并前交叉韧带(ACL)断裂,2例合并后交叉韧带(PCL)断裂.交叉韧带损伤术前Lysholm评分为50～60分(平均56.7分).关节镜下重建交叉韧带,开放修复后内侧结构.8例采用自体半腱肌、股薄重建ACL(transfix术式),2例采用骨.髌腱.骨重建ACL.2例采用一端带骨块的异体跟腱蓖建PCL.后内侧结构损伤修复:8例采用星状钢板螺钉同定,2例采用GⅡ锚钉固定.1例采用自体半肌腱、股薄肌移植重建,1 例采用端对端缝合.结果 12例中除2例随访4个月后失访外,其余10例患者术后获平均12个月(6～18个月)随访.交叉韧带损伤重建后Lysholm评分为74～94分(平均81.2分).后内侧结构修复后10例膝伸屈范围正常,2例伸直受限5.外翻应力试验于O啦时,9例正常,2例弱阳性(+),1例阳性(++).结论 膝后内侧结构损伤合并单一交叉韧带断裂时,早期重建交叉韧带同时一期修复膝后内侧结构可以较好地恢复膝关节稳定性.     

膝关节后内侧结构损伤早期修复疗效观察

[目的]探讨膝关节后内侧结构损伤(内侧副韧带MCL,后斜韧带POL)的手术治疗效果.[方法]2002年1月～2007年10月共治疗14例后内侧结构损伤中12例合并ACL断裂, 2例合并PCL断裂.后内侧结构损伤分型:Ⅰ型:8例,后内侧结构于股骨止点撕裂,带小片骨块,0.8～1.0 cm.Ⅱ型:2例,后内侧结构于股骨止点撕裂,无骨块.Ⅲ型:2例,后内侧结构于体部断裂.Ⅳ型2例,后内侧结构于胫骨止点撕裂.后内侧结构损伤修复:8例采用星状钢板螺钉,4例采用GⅡ锚钉(2例固定于股骨内上髁,2例固定于胫骨内侧止点).关节镜下交叉韧带重建: 8例ACL断裂采用自体半腱肌、股薄肌重建ACL(tranfix)术式,2例ACL断裂采用骨-髌腱-骨术式,2例ACL于胫骨止点撕脱关节镜下复位空心钉固定,2例PCL断裂采用一端带骨块异体跟腱重建PCL.[结果]本组14例中2例随访4个月后失访,平均随访12个月(6～18个月),交叉韧带损伤重建后评分(Lysholm)74～94分(平均81.2分),术前50～60分(平均56.7分).后内侧结构修复后10例膝伸屈范围正常,2例伸直受限5°.外翻应力试验于0°位,9例正常,2例+,1例++.[结论]膝后内侧结构损伤积极外科治疗可以收到较好的手术效果,恢复膝关节内后侧稳定性.     

关节镜下膝前交叉韧带与后交叉韧带联合重建

[目的]探讨膝关节双交叉韧带损伤的临床特点,评估关节镜下前交叉韧带(ACL)与后交叉韧带(PCL)联合重建的技术和效果。[方法]自2001年9月~2005年2月,13例病人(13膝)经关节镜检查证实ACL和PCL均断裂,其中5膝伴后内侧角(PMC)、内侧副韧带损伤(MCL),4膝伴后外侧角损伤(PLC),2膝伴外侧半月板破裂,1膝伴内侧半月板损伤,3膝伴腘动脉损伤,2膝伴腓总神经损伤。7例病人于损伤后急性期入院,2膝于急性期行腘血管探查修复,4膝行膝后内侧角、内侧副韧带修复。13例病人于伤后4~12周在关节镜下行自体移植物单束ACL和PCL联合重建术,其中4例同期后1/2股二头肌腱重建后PLC,1例同期阔筋膜PMC、MCL重建。[结果]本组术后早期均未发生严重并发症。术后随访10~39个月,平均(21.85±9.28)个月,Lysholm膝关节功能评分为75~95分,平均(86.54±6.89)分。国际膝关节文件编制委员会(IKDC)综合评定由术前显著异常(D级)13例,改进为随访时正常(A级)3例、接近正常(B级)8例、异常(C级)2例。13例病人中,11例恢复至伤前运动水平,2例运动水平较伤前减低。[结论]膝关节双交叉韧带损伤多伴有其它重要结构损伤,需妥善处理合并损伤。关节镜下自体移植物联合单束重建ACL和PCL创伤小、手术操作精细,术后膝关节功能恢复满意。     

关节镜下部分重建治疗膝关节前交叉韧带不完全断裂

目的 探讨前交叉韧带(ACL)不完全断裂的关节镜下诊断及镜下部分蕈建治疗的疗效和意义. 方法 2004年6月至2006年12月,经关节镜确诊ACL不完伞断裂29例,其中前内侧束断裂21例,后外侧束断裂8例.全部患者于关节镜下重建损伤部分的韧带组织,选用LARS韧带蕈建11例,自体四股腘绳肌腱移植重建18例,术中完整保留未断裂部分的切带纤维束. 结果全部患者均获随访,平均随访15个月(12～30个月),治疗康复12个月时,门诊进行统一标准膝关节功能评定,膝关节Lysholm评分手术前、后比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05). 结论正常ACL的前内侧束和后外侧束各自有不同的功能,对于ACL不完全断裂,准确判断ACL的断裂程度十分重要.有效地重建断裂部分的ACL,能够恢复双束韧带的完整统一,更有益于良好地恢复关节功能,避免晚期并发症的发生,对恢复膝关节稳定和功能有着重要的意义.     

36例膝关节多发韧带损伤一期修复功能重建的近期疗效观察

[目的]探讨关节镜下一期重建前、后交叉韧带联合有限切开修复内侧副韧带Ⅲ度损伤恢复膝关节稳定和功能的疗效。[方法]2008年5月~2012年9月,收治36例膝关节前交叉韧带(anterior cruciate ligament,ACL)、后交叉韧带(posterior cruciateligament,PCL)损伤及合并内侧副韧带(medial collateral ligament,MCL)Ⅲ度损伤的患者。男25例,女11例;年龄18~61岁,平均43岁。交通事故伤12例,扭伤11例,砸伤8例,高处坠落伤5例。损伤至手术时间7~26 d,平均8 d。。膝关节Lysholm评分为(16.57±7.89)分,国际膝关节文献委员会(IKDC)评分为(19.87±9.42)分,关节活动范围为(31.2±25.8)°。伴膝关节脱位6例,半月板损伤9例。关节镜下采用自体腘绳肌腱重建ACL,LARS人工韧带重建PCL,有限切开修复内侧副韧带。[结果]患者术后均获随访,随访时间为24~28个月,平均25.6个月。术后2年Lysholm膝关节功能评分为(89.23±6.08)分,关节活动范围为(122.6±10.3)°,IKDC评分为(90.32±5.26)分,与术前比较差异有统计学意义(P0.001)。[结论]对于膝关节多发韧带损伤,一期关节镜下重建ACL和PCL,同时配合有限切开修复MCL,创伤小,膝关节的稳定性恢复好,关节粘连发生率明显降低,可获得较好的近期疗效。     

膝关节多韧带损伤

目的探讨膝关节多韧带损伤的临床特点,并评估其治疗效果。方法9例患者(9膝)经临床及关节镜检查证实前交叉韧带(ACL)和后交叉韧带(PCL)均断裂,其中5膝伴后内侧角(PMC)、内侧副韧带损伤(MCL),急性期4膝伴后外侧角损伤(PLC)。4膝行膝后内侧角、内侧副韧带修复。9例患者于伤后4~10周在关节镜下行自体移植物单束ACL和PCL联合重建术,其中4例同期后1/2股二头肌肌腱重建后PLC,1例同期阔筋膜PMC、MCL重建。结果术后随访10~39个月,平均(23·0±9·5)个月,Lysholm膝关节功能评分为70~95分,平均(85·0±8·3)分。国际膝关节文件编制委员会(IKDC)综合评定由入院时显著异常(D级)9例,改进为随访时正常(A级)2例、接近正常(B级)6例、异常(C级)1例。结论膝关节多韧带损伤可在关节镜下ACL、PCL联合重建,分期或同期关节外韧带修复或重建,具有安全可靠、手术创伤小的优点,其治疗效果满意。     

膝关节多韧带损伤Ⅰ期修复重建

[目的]探讨关节镜下一期修复重建膝关节多韧带损伤的疗效。[方法]2009年4月~2014年12月收治膝关节前交叉韧带(ACL)、后交叉韧带(PCL)损伤及合并内侧副韧带(MCL)Ⅲ度损伤患者39例,男23例,女16例,年龄22~50岁,平均41.4岁。损伤至手术时间10~16 d,平均13 d。所有病例均于早期行关节镜下前、后交叉韧带重建以及内侧副韧带修复。重建材料选择双侧自体腘绳肌腱,内侧副韧带修复采用有限切开缝合或带线锚钉修复。术前、术后采用Lysholm功能评分、IKDC评分及主动关节活动度评估患膝功能。[结果]所有患者均得到随访,随访时间16~30个月,平均20.6个月。末次随访时患者伸膝无明显受限,膝关节屈曲(115±15)°,Lysholm膝关节功能评分为(88.16±5.72)分,关节活动范围为(115±15)°,IKDC评分为(89.25±4.93)分,与术前比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.001)。[结论]关节镜下Ⅰ期修复重建膝关节多韧带损伤安全、有效,治疗效果满意。     

膝关节多韧带损伤的临床研究

目的探讨膝关节多韧带损伤的诊断与治疗方法并评价其治疗效果。方法治疗51例单侧膝关节多韧带损伤,其损伤类型：21例前交叉韧带（ACL）＋内侧副韧带（MCL）,1例ACL＋后外侧复合体（PLC）,4例后交叉韧带（PCL）＋MCL,6例PCL＋PLC,6例ACL＋PCL＋MCL,3例ACL＋PCL＋PLC,8例ACL＋PCL,2例PCL＋髌腱。14例急性Ⅲ度MCL和3例急性Ⅲ度PLC损伤行切开手术,原位缝合,外固定制动3周,再行关节镜下其他韧带手术。2例Ⅲ度慢性MCL和3例Ⅲ度慢性PLC损伤行切开韧带重建术,并同期行关节镜下ACL或PCL重建术。在总共39条ACL损伤中,20条行关节镜下自体Hamstring腱ACL重建术,17条行关节镜下自体骨-髌腱-骨（BPB）重建ACL术,2条行同种异体肌腱重建ACL;在总共29条PCL损伤中,19条行关节镜下自体Hamstring腱PCL重建术,2条行同种异体肌腱重建PCL,另8条急性损伤经固定后由Ⅲ度变为〈Ⅱ度损伤,故未特别治疗。其中,17例ACL＋PCL损伤处理方法为：4例先行PCL重建,二期再行ACL的重建,7例同期自体Hamstring腱重建PCL、自体BPB重建ACL,2例为同种异体肌腱同期重建ACL和PCL,4例仅做ACL重建术。1例髌腱完全性断裂原位修复,另1例部分性髌腱损伤者未治疗。4例合并腓总神经损伤均未做特别治疗。结果平均随访2.4年（9个月～5年）。术后Lysholm评分平均为86.3（51～100）,Tegner活 动评分为5.2（2～8）,均较术前显著增加（P〈0.001）。1例外翻试验为2＋,2例Lachman试验或轴移试验≥2＋,6例应力后沉征或后抽屉试验2＋,4例内翻试验或反轴移试验2＋。其余的对应各种体格检查均为≤1＋。4例合并腓总神经损伤者,术后3例自行恢复,1例未恢复。结论在多韧带损伤中,≤Ⅱ度的MCL或者PLC损伤应采用保守治疗,Ⅲ度损伤者应尽早手术原位修复内侧副韧带及其关节囊或PLC,以利于后期进行其他重要韧带的治疗。交叉韧带或关节内重要组织可二期在?     

内侧副韧带合并前交叉韧带损伤的临床治疗策略

膝关节内侧副韧带Hughston Ⅲ级损伤常合并有前交叉韧带损伤,韧带重建术是目前该类损伤主要的治疗方式。其中,前交叉韧带重建术已经从传统的等长重建发展到解剖重建,使膝关节术后的前后稳定性和患者的运动水平得到了更满意的临床效果;目前内侧副韧带的重建方式较多,但是大多不能很好的恢复膝关节的旋转稳定性,内侧副韧带三角矢量重建在恢复膝关节外翻稳定性的同时,能够有效的恢复旋转稳定性。对于合并有内侧副韧带和前交叉韧带的损伤,二者造成旋转稳定性的叠加损失,内侧副韧带三角矢量重建发挥的作用就显得更加重要。作者提出了一种治疗内侧副韧带和前交叉韧带合并损伤的临床治疗策略,旨在更好地指导、应用于临床。     

膝关节前交叉韧带急性损伤早期关节镜下检查和手术治疗

目的 探索关节镜下早期微创修复与重建膝关节交叉韧带（ＡＬＣ）的方法。方法 对２３例ＡＣＬ急性完全断裂者施行了早期关节镜术。结果 １８例主前诊断相符;３你关节镜下明确诊断,２例发现断裂：观察到内侧副韧带断裂间接与直接损伤征象各２例。ＡＣＬ断裂病理类型：韧带体部断裂２１例,上、下止点撕脱各１例。２１例早期重建ＡＣＬ中,６例在关节镜下完成。结论 ＡＣＬ急性损伤早期施以关节镜手术,创伤小、诊断明确,可观察     

Segond骨折及合并损伤的临床诊治分析

目的 :研究Segond骨折的手术时间与方法和临床表现特点。方法:2010年6月至2014年12月期间,收治10例Segond骨折病例,均为男性,年龄26~69岁,平均42岁。其中,伤后7~10 d行关节镜探查发现前交叉韧带完全断裂及半月板损伤6例;伤后7~10 d行关节镜探查发现前交叉韧带胫骨侧止点撕脱骨折并半月板损伤2例;伤后4~8周行关节镜探查手术2例,发现前交叉韧带及后交叉韧带同时完全断裂并半月板损伤1例,前交叉韧带完全断裂无后交叉韧带断裂1例。针对交叉韧带完全断裂的患者在关节镜探查后行交叉韧带重建术,9例半月板损伤患者给予半月板成形术或缝合术,2例前交叉韧带胫骨止点撕脱骨折的病例则在关节镜下采用爱惜邦捆绑固定技术进行复位与固定。术后采用Lysholm膝关节评分标准进行疗效评价。结果:伤后10 d手术干预的8例,膝关节在术后3 d时肿胀明显,给予关节腔穿刺发现淡血性液,术后1周开始护具保护并下床。伤后4~8周行手术处理的2例,膝关节在术后3 d时无明显肿胀,进行关节腔穿刺抽吸未发现淡血性液,术后3 d能在护具保护下活动及下床。术后10例均获随访,时间12~24个月,平均18个月。Lysholm膝关节评分术后高于术前,治疗结果满意。结论:关于Segond骨折,正确且早期诊断对治疗至关重要;Segond骨折往往伴发前交叉韧带损伤和半月板损伤,关节镜下手术(包括交叉韧带重建和半月板修复等)的最佳手术时间宜在伤后4周~2个月内进行,且需要依据不同并发症挑选个性化的治疗方案。     

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: State of the Art

Abstract The rupture of the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) belongs to the most common ligament injuries of the human knee joint. ACL rupture results in an increased anterior translation and internal rotation of the tibia. Untreated knee instability causes a disintegration of the roll and sliding movement and a high incidence of secondary meniscus and chondral damages with consecutive or advanced arthritic changes. For deciding on a conservative or operative therapy, it is necessary to develop a high-risk profile. Elderly, inactive patients without instability symptoms can be treated conservatively; younger, active people and complex ligament injuries should receive an ACL replacement. The goal is to eliminate instability by maintaining the physiological kinematics of the knee. Anterior cruciate ligament may be reconstructed arthroscopically assisted by autologous tendons. Predominantly, hamstring- and bone-patellar-tendon grafts are used. No significant differences in knee laxity, clinically and functionally, were observed between both grafts. Various reconstruction techniques, single- or double-bundle techniques, were described. Successful replacement depends on a correct tunnel placement and reconstruction of the physiological band tension, a sufficient mechanical stability of fixation, an impingement-free range of motion and an adequate rehabilitation. A high degree of patient satisfaction in clinical and functional outcome could be evaluated.     

Value of sonography of the anterior cruciate ligament in post-traumatic hemarthrosis]

Periosteal avulsions of the femoral insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) should be treated by reinsertion within 2 weeks of the injury. Due to painful muscular hypertension, the clinical examination of ligament stability incorrectly revealed negative results in 12-62% posttraumatically. The only sufficiently sensitive indication of ACL rupture is posttraumatic hemarthrosis. Therefore, early arthroscopy of any posttraumatic hemarthrotic knee joint is required to exclude or confirm ACL rupture. Up to 30% of such procedures are carried out with no clinical consequences. We therefore set out to test the value of sonography of the ACL in hemarthrosis of the injured knee joint. A total of 117 posttraumatic hemarthrotic knee joints were subjected to ultrasound examination prior to arthroscopic evaluation. With a 5 MHz linear scanner, the femoral insertion of the ACL at the femoral condyle is represented in the same projection of injured and noninjured knee joints. In noninjured knee joints the hypoechoic insertion of the ACL lies directly on the S-shaped line of the lateral femoral condyle. The space between the condyles is hyperechoic. In case of a femoral ACL avulsion the insertion of the ACL and the hyperechoic structures between the condyles are forced aside by a hypoechoic area. Of 51 arthroscopically demonstrated complete ruptures of the ACL, 49 were detected by sonography. In 16 cases sonography suggested ACL rupture, but this could not be confirmed by arthroscopy, though 8 of these cases showed evidence of ACL strain without any lost of stability of the knee joint. For sonography we found a sensitivity of 96.1% and a fairly good specificity of 75.2%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

膝关节脱位多韧带损伤Ⅰ期修复重建的临床观察

目的:探讨关节镜下Ⅰ期异体肌腱重建并结合关节外微创技术治疗膝关节脱位合并多发韧带损伤的临床疗效。方法:2008年1月至2012年1月共收治48例膝关节脱位患者,排除腘血管损伤,采用关节镜下Ⅰ期重建前后交叉韧带,并结合关节外微创技术修复膝关节韧带损伤。男38例,女10例;年龄20～59岁,平均35.6岁;左膝22例,右膝26例;伤后至手术时间2 d～2周。前交叉韧带(ACL)、后交叉韧带(PCL)、内侧副韧带(MCL)及后外侧复合体(PLC)损伤2例,ACL、PCL及MCL损伤36例,ACL、PCL及PLC损伤10例。合并腓总神经损伤4例。比较术前及末次随访时Lysholm 评分以评价膝关节功能。结果:所有患者获得随访,时间12～30个月,平均(18.2±6.3)个月,患者关节活动度和稳定性明显改善,Lysholm评分由术前40.3±4.1提高为随访时87. 0±6.4.结论:关节镜下应用同种异体肌腱Ⅰ期重建膝关节脱位并多韧带损伤,能较好地恢复关节稳定性,保留关节功能。术前训练指导及术后个体化康复是膝关节功能恢复的关键。     

分期修复重建膝关节多发韧带损伤的临床疗效

目的 :探讨关节镜下分期治疗膝关节多发韧带损伤的临床疗效。方法 :2006年3月至2012年6月,关节镜下分期治疗膝关节多发韧带损伤14例(14膝)。男8例,女6例;年龄20~49岁,平均(31.8±8.1)岁。患者均行X线、MR检查,提示10例前交叉韧带、后交叉韧带及内侧副韧带损伤,4例前交叉韧带、后交叉韧带及后外侧角损伤。合并内侧半月板损伤4例,外侧半月板损伤2例。Ⅰ期手术治疗内侧副韧带损伤、后交叉韧带及半月板,术后固定3周后开始主被动功能锻炼,3~6个月后膝关节活动范围正常且存在明显松弛时Ⅱ期重建前交叉韧带和(或)后交叉韧带。结果:术后切口均Ⅰ期愈合,无感染等手术相关并发症发生。患者均获随访,时间24~80个月,平均48.9个月。末次随访时膝关节Lysholm评分达87.1±2.8,优于术前19.6±0.9(t=12.3,P0.01)。国际膝关节评分委员会(International Knee Documentation Committee,IKDC)评级:9例接近正常,5例异常。结论 :关节镜下分期治疗膝关节多发韧带损伤能有效恢复膝关节稳定性和功能。     

Arthroscopically assisted combined anterior and posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

This article presents the minimum 2-year results (range, 24 to 48 months) of 20 arthroscopically assisted combined anterior cruciate ligament/posterior cruciate ligament (ACL/PCL) reconstructions, evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using the Tegner, Lysholm, and Hospital for Special Surgery knee ligament rating scales, and the KT 1000 knee ligament arthrometer (Medmetric Corp, San Diego, CA). There were 16 men or boys, 4 women or girls; 9 right, 11 left; 10 acute, and 10 chronic knee injuries. Ligament injuries included 1 ACL/PCL tear, 2 ACL/PCL/medial collateral ligament (MCL)/posterior lateral corner tears, 7 ACL/PCL/MCL tears, and 10 ACL/PCL/posterior lateral corner tears. ACLs were reconstructed using autograft or allograft patellar tendons. PCLs were reconstructed using allograft Achilles tendon, or autograft patellar tendon. MCL tears were successfully treated with bracing. Posterior lateral instability was successfully treated with long head of the biceps femoris tendon tenodesis. Teguer, Lysholm, and Hospital for Special Surgery knee ligament rating scales significantly improved preoperatively to postoperatively (P = .0001). Corrected anterior KT 1000 measurements improved from preoperative to postoperative status (P = .0078).     

Incidence and diagnosis of anterior cruciate injuries in the accident and emergency department

A total of 220 consecutive young adults with a traumatic effusion of the knee joint, seen initially in the accident and emergency department, have been reviewed in a weekly orthopaedic acute knee clinic. Of the patients, 80 per cent were seen within 3 days of the injury, and all patients were seen within 8 days of the injury. There were 62 patients (28 per cent) with damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), of whom 37 patients (17 per cent) had acute complete ACL tears. There were 92 haemarthroses in this series, in which there was a high incidence of ACL damage. The Lachman test was used in this study and identified 73 per cent of the acute complete ACL tears preoperatively and all the chronic ACL injuries. Acute ACL injuries can be diagnose early provided adequate resources are available to provide clinic and theatre facilities. Early diagnosis enables the patients to be given clear advice on future job and sports prospects and allows selection of patients most likely to benefit from augmented repair of the ligament. Associated meniscal lesions can also be identified and treated at an early stage.     

Isolierte und kombinierte Kniebandverletzungen

Complex knee ligament injuries are characterized by simultaneous rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and/or the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and at least one collateral ligament. Isolated injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and PCL have a high healing capacity and can be treated conservatively in many cases. Ruptures of the MCL can also be treated conservatively in complex injuries if the cruciate ligaments are reconstructed. Ruptures of the lateral structures usually need surgical reconstruction. Indications for acute surgical repair include meniscus dislocation, entrapment of collateral ligament portions in the joint, knee dislocation with severe knee instability, and displaced bony avulsions. The anatomy of the knee ligaments must be carefully respected in surgical reconstruction. Acute repair of collateral ligament injuries is possible only in the first 2 weeks after trauma. Acute arthroscopy is indicated only in combination with reconstructive surgery.     

How to treat knee ligament injuries?

Indications for conservative treatment of knee ligament injuries can be established for all grade I or II sprains (partial tears), as well as isolated grade III sprains (complete tears) of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). These injuries should be treated with immediate mobilization. Only in isolated partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears without a positive pivot shift phenomenon is conservative treatment justified. However, many of these injuries may require operative reconstruction later. In complete ACL tears the surgical treatment consists of primary reconstruction or augmented primary repair. Today, the middle third of the patella tendon with the bone blocks is regarded as the "gold standard" for augmented repairs and late reconstructions. For the present, there is no place for synthetic prostheses in the treatment of an acute ACL rupture. Allograft replacement of the ACL must now be considered an experimental procedure. In the reconstruction of the PCL the above mentioned patella tendon graft is also preferable. Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tears, especially if they are combined with ruptures of posterolateral ligament complex, should be repaired immediately after the injury. In these injuries late reconstructions are difficult and the results are poor. Conservative treatment of partial tears and postoperative treatment of reconstructed ligaments is twofold: on the one hand, the healing tissue should be protected and on the other hand, atrophy and wasting of uninjured tissue should be avoided. Overload and stretching of the injured ligaments should be eliminated with the aid of a suitable knee brace, but early range of motion exercises of the knee are allowed immediately.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)