Functional outcome following PCL and complex knee ligament reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries can significantly impair knee function.
• Surgical reconstruction aims to restore stability and function.
• Understanding long-term functional recovery, especially muscle function, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of PCL reconstruction surgery.
• To specifically assess the recovery of knee muscle function after PCL reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Single bundle PCL reconstruction performed on 23 patients.
• Follow-up assessments at 2, 6, 12, and 26 weeks, with detailed functional evaluation at 12 and 24 months.
• Outcome measures included IKDC scores, Tegner activity rating, and isokinetic dynamometry for knee flexion and extension peak torque.

Main Results:

• 83% of patients achieved normal or near-normal IKDC scores at final follow-up.
• 74% of patients returned to moderate or strenuous activity levels.
• While ligament stability and range of motion were largely restored, significant deficits in knee flexion (14%) and extension (9%) peak torque persisted at 24 months compared to the contralateral limb.

Conclusions:

• PCL reconstruction yields satisfactory clinical outcomes regarding knee stability and overall function.
• Persistent abnormalities in knee muscle function, particularly extension strength, are common up to two years post-surgery.
• Further research into optimizing muscle rehabilitation protocols following PCL reconstruction is warranted.