The Harvard Orthopaedic Journal

Background: 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. Questions/purposes: The objectives of this study were (1) tTo offer an algorithm for management of the patient with a multiligamentous injury to the knee.(2) to describe the clinical and functional outcomes of a consecutive series of patients with multiligament knee injuries managed with this approach by a single surgeon (3) to present a novel surgical technique for the treatment of multiligamentous knee injuries. Patients and Methods: We present data on sixteen consecutive knees in 16 patients, 11 male and 5 female, mean age 44 (range 24-65) years with a diagnosis of a multiligament knee injury (defined as a disruption of two or more ligaments that include the PCL). All patients underwent standard preoperative evaluation and were treated according to our algorithm for surgical reconstruction of multiligament-injured knees. Mean follow-up since surgery was 3.87 (range 2-9) years. Outcome measures were determination of range of motion, testing with KT-2000 arthrometer, and Tegner and Lysholm scores. Results: Common mechanisms of injury were MVA in 7 patients (44%) and sports in 3 patients (19%). Of the four major knee ligaments, 4 patients (25%) had two injured ligaments, 11 patients (69%) had three injured ligaments, and 1 patient (6%) had four injured ligaments. There was an associated common peroneal nerve injury in