Non-Anatomic Reconstruction in Multiligament Knee Injuries: A Functional Approach

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Multiligament knee injuries cause significant instability and functional compromise.
• Anatomic reconstruction is traditional, but non-anatomic techniques offer alternatives for moderate functional demands.
• Assessing outcomes of a hybrid non-anatomic surgical approach for these injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the functional outcomes of a non-anatomic, hybrid surgical technique for multiligament knee injuries.
• Determine the efficacy of simplified medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) reconstruction methods.
• Compare outcomes in active, non-professional patients versus traditional anatomic reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid surgical approach combining arthroscopic and open techniques for non-anatomic ligament reconstruction.
• Involved 60 patients with multiligament knee injuries.
• Functional outcomes assessed using IKDC, Lysholm, and KOOS scores.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in all functional outcome scores (IKDC, Lysholm, KOOS) post-surgery (p < 0.01).
• Median IKDC score increased from 39.1 to 75.9, Lysholm from 61.0 to 87.0, and KOOS from 47.6 to 85.7.
• Demonstrated enhanced knee stability, reduced pain, and improved quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Non-anatomic ligament reconstruction is a feasible and effective option for multiligament knee injuries.
• This hybrid approach provides a practical solution for patients returning to daily activities and recreational sports.
• Offers a less complex alternative to full anatomic reconstruction while achieving significant functional gains.