Chronic posterior knee dislocation: treatment with arthrolysis, posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and hinged external fixation device

Abstract

Traumatic dislocation of the knee is a severe injury compared with the commonly seen ruptures of the cruciate ligaments. In most cases both the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are torn. Even if the PCL is reconstructed, a posterior sag of the tibia persists in some cases. The treatment of these chronic posterior knee dislocations is much more difficult compared with the initial treatment of traumatic knee dislocation, and various procedures have been proposed. We suggest a treatment involving arthrolysis, cruciate ligament reconstruction and a special hinged external fixation device.