Delayed treatment of neglected open knee dislocation; case report.

Abstract

Introduction and importanceTraumatic open knee dislocation is a rare, severe injury characterized by severe ligamentous destruction and a high frequency of infection and neurovascular involvement. Delayed treatment of these injuries is complicated, necessitating the intervention of not only a skilled orthopedic surgeon but also a plastic surgeon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of delayed open knee dislocation faced by a practicing surgeon in an underdeveloped country (Somalia) with a successful outcome.Case presentationA 60 years old diabetic man, presented to our emergency unit with an open wound of his left knee, due to a traffic accident three months ago. At the time, a bone healer reduced the dislocation and applied traditional medicine to cover the wound. We decided to treat the patient with vigorous debridement, gastrocnemius flap, and hybrid external fixation for arthrodesis. The patient was followed up for three months after the surgery with excellent clinical and radiological outcomes.ConclusionAlthough treating delayed open knee dislocation injuries is challenging, using a gastrocnemius muscle flap to cover the knee joint and arthrodesis to stabilize the joint will not only prevent limb amputation but will also result in satisfactory results.