A Clinical Study on Ligamentous Injuries of the Knee

Yang, Jung Ham; Cho, Tae Hwan; Yoo, Soo Chul

Abstract

The knee joint is one of the most susceptable joint to ligamentous injury. For good results, it is very important to make an early diagnosis and to give prompt management. The aim of treatment is to restore the ligaments to their previous anatomic position and tension. The authors reviewed 420 cases of ligamentous injuries in 400 patients who were admitted and managed for 6 years from March, 1981 to February, 1987. The results were as follows : 1. The athletic injury was the most commcn cause of injury(55%), and fall-down was next(26%). 2. The most common ruptured individual ligament was the medial collateral ligament. Combined ligament rupture was more common in medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament. 3. The ruptured sites of the individual ligament were found to be the following ; a) the medial collateral ligament was ruptured most frequently at the femoral attachment(43%), with the superficial layer ruptured in the midsubstance and the deep layer at the femoral attachment; b) the lateral collateral ligament torn at the fibular attachment(51%); c) the anterior cruciate ligament torn at the femoral attachment(39%); d) the posterior cruciate ligament torn at the femoral attachment(64%). 4. Many ligamentous injuries were associated with fracture(44%) and tear of meniscus- (42%). 5. In stress-radiogram, the significance of ligament injuries was present in more than 10 and 10 mm. 6. Excellent and good results were obtained in 94% by non-surgical treatment and in 92% by surgical treatment. 7. Early surgical repair of the ligament within 2 weeks after injury, gave much better result than later repairs.