Impact of associated injuries in the Floating knee: A retrospective study

Ulfin Rethnam,Rajagopalan Nair,Rajam S Yesupalan

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-10-7

Ulfin Rethnam, Rajagopalan Nair + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-10-7

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Abstract

BackgroundFloating knee injuries are usually associated with other significant injuries. Do these injuries have implications on the management of the floating knee and the final outcome of patients? Our study aims to assess the implications of associated injuries in the management and final outcome of floating knee.Methods29 patients with floating knees were assessed in our institution. A retrospective analysis of medical records and radiographs were done and all associated injuries were identified. The impact of associated injuries on delay in initial surgical management, delay in rehabilitation & final outcome of the floating knee were assessed.Results38 associated injuries were noted. 7 were associated with ipsilateral knee injuries. Lower limb injuries were most commonly associated with the floating knee. Patients with some associated injuries had a delay in surgical management and others a delay in post-operative rehabilitation. Knee ligament and vascular injuries were associated with poor outcome.ConclusionThe associated injuries were quite frequent with the floating knee. Some of the associated injuries caused a delay in surgical management and post-operative rehabilitation. In assessment of the final outcome, patients with associated knee and vascular injuries had a poor prognosis. Majority of the patients with associated injuries had a good or excellent outcome.

Highlights

Floating knee injuries are usually associated with other significant injuries
Our study aims to assess the impact of associated injuries in the management and final outcome of the floating knee
The study included all patients with surgically treated ipsilateral fractures of the femur and tibia encountered during the study period

Summary

Introduction

Floating knee injuries are usually associated with other significant injuries. Do these injuries have implications on the management of the floating knee and the final outcome of patients? Our study aims to assess the implications of associated injuries in the management and final outcome of floating knee. Floating knee injuries are usually associated with other significant injuries Do these injuries have implications on the management of the floating knee and the final outcome of patients? The force required to fracture two of the strongest bones in the body is immense Not surprisingly, these injuries are associated with other injuries (bony and soft tissue). The grossly deformed limb that one encounters in the floating knee can act as a major "distracting factor" and it is not unusual to miss other significant injuries. Do these injuries have a bearing on the management on the floating knee? Do these injuries have a bearing on the management on the floating knee? Most studies on the floating knee concentrate on their treatment, with just a mention of the associated injuries. [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]

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