Delayed reduction of traumatic knee dislocation. A case report and literature review

Knee dislocation after high energy trauma poses a major challenge to patients and treating physicians. The case presented documents the history and treatment of an unreduced posterior knee dislocation discovered 24 weeks after injury. Delayed surgical reduction was achieved, and satisfactory results were obtained with 22 months of followup of the patient. A detailed review of the literature found no comparable examples of longstanding traumatic dislocations of the knee but shed light on the probable cause for this unusual case. Close clinical followup, even after appropriate initial treatment of knee dislocations, is needed to eliminate similar occurrences.