COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OPEN AND CLOSED FLOATING KNEE INJURIES

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Floating knee injuries involve complex trauma to the knee joint.
• Distinguishing between open and closed fractures is crucial for predicting outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional outcomes between open and closed floating knee injuries.
• To identify differences in complications and recovery between injury types.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 52 patients with floating knee injuries.
• Patients categorized into open (Group 1) and closed (Group 2) fracture groups.
• Comparison of demographic, clinical, and functional outcomes, including Karlström-Olerud scores.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference in hospital stay length (p=0.01) and functional scores (p=0.02) was observed.
• Osteomyelitis occurred in 17% of open fracture patients versus 4% of closed fracture patients.
• Open floating knee injuries were associated with poorer functional outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Open floating knee injuries have worse outcomes than closed injuries.
• Patients with open fractures experience more complications and extended hospital stays.
• Early identification and management of open fractures are vital for improving patient prognosis.