The Nonoperative Treatment of Acute, Isolated (Partial or Complete) Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees: An Intermediate-term Follow-up Study
- 7 July 2007
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in HSS Journal®: The Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery
- Vol. 3 (2), 137-146
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-007-9058-z
Abstract
Fifty-seven consecutive patients (58 knees) with an acute, isolated, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury were treated nonoperatively. Clinical, radiographic, and functional assessment was performed at a mean follow-up of 6.9 years (range 2 to 19.3 years) after the initial diagnosis. At the time of initial documentation of the injury, the posterior drawer test was grade A in 17 knees and grade B in 41 knees. The mean preinjury Tegner activity level was 7 (range 4 to 10). At latest follow-up, 38 knees had no pain, 14 had mild pain, and 6 had moderate pain on exertion. Fifty-four knees had no swelling, 3 had mild, intermittent swelling, and 1 had a moderate swelling on exertion. The posterior drawer test was grade A in 14 knees and grade B in 44 knees. The mean Lysholm-II knee score was 85.2 points (range 51 to 100 points) and the mean Tegner activity level was 6.6 (range 3 to 10). Based on Lysholm-II knee scoring system, the results were excellent in 23 knees (40%), good in 30 knees (52%), fair in 2 knees (3%), and poor in 3 knees (5%). No statistically significant correlation (p = 0.097) was seen between the grade of PCL laxity and Lysholm-II knee score. Plain radiographs showed mild (grade I) medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) in 7 knees, and moderate (grade II) medial compartment OA in 3 knees. Mild patellofemoral OA was seen in 4 knees. We believe that most patients with acute, isolated PCL injuries do well with nonoperative treatment at a mean follow-up of 6.9 years. The level of evidence for this retrospective cohort study is level III.Keywords
This publication has 67 references indexed in Scilit:
- Diagnosis of Complete and Partial Posterior Cruciate Ligament RupturesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1997
- Nonoperatively treated isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuriesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1993
- Isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries in athletesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1987
- Long-term results of nonoperative treatment of isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries in the athleteThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1986
- Long-term followup of posterior cruciate ligament rupture: A study of 116 casesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1984
- Posterior cruciate ligament injuriesActa Orthopaedica, 1984
- Acute tears of the posterior cruciate ligament: Clinical study and results of operative treatment in 27 casesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1983
- Reconstruction of the Posterior Cruciate LigamentClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1982
- Diagnosis of acute knee injuries with hemarthrosisThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1980
- THE POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENTThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1967