Does Delayed Ligament Reconstruction Surgery Lead to Poor Outcomes in Patients With Multiligament Knee Injuries?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Biomechanics

Background:

• Multiligament knee injuries (MLKIs) present complex treatment challenges.
• Conservative management of MLKIs is associated with poor patient outcomes.
• Optimal surgical timing for MLKIs remains a subject of debate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess midterm patient-reported outcomes following delayed surgical reconstruction of multiligament knee injuries.
• To identify factors influencing outcomes after MLKI reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A review of a prospectively maintained database of 51 patients undergoing MLKI reconstruction.
• Median follow-up duration of 48 months.
• Analysis of patient-reported outcomes and influencing factors, including surgical delay and patient demographics.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in range of motion (ROM) between injured and healthy knees at midterm follow-up.
• Surgical outcomes were comparable between patients operated on within 6 months versus those operated on after 6 months post-injury.
• Female patients and those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) >30 reported inferior outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Delayed surgical reconstruction for multiligament knee injuries can yield favorable midterm patient-reported outcomes.
• Higher BMI and female sex are associated with poorer outcomes in MLKI reconstruction.
• Further research may explore targeted interventions for at-risk patient groups.