Multiligament knee injuries are typically the result of severe trauma and can result in loss of limb or limb function. At the present time, there is controversy regarding initial treatment and optimal surgical management. The existing published literature lacks adequately sized prospective comparative patient-reported outcome studies to guide clinical decision making. These complicated injuries necessitate a methodical approach to evaluation and treatment.
The concept of multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKI) comprises a wide range of ligament and intra-articular injury patterns. Review of published studies analyzing incidence rates of patients with MLKI reveals a heterogeneous mixture of patient populations, injury mechanisms, and criteria for inclusion making direct comparison essentially impossible. The decisions of operative versus nonoperative management, the timing of surgery,…
