[Comparison of knee ligament scores and rating systems]

The results of the treatment of knee instabilities are evaluated by different scoring systems including subjective and/or objective criteria. Because of their number and their different criteria a comparison between the scoring systems is still a problem. The aim of this study was to analyze 14 different scoring-systems and prove the comparison of the commonly used rating scales. 116 patients with anterior or anterior-medial knee instabilities were followed up at least 2 years postoperatively. The evaluation was performed according to the criteria of the used rating-scales. The Lysholm I scoring system showed the highest mean total score (92 points). The scales that gave the highest correlation were the Cincinnati and ARPEGE scoring system (r = 0.97). The Lysholm I Scale and the Barrack Scale correlated least well (r = 0.711). This study documents that a transfer of results from one scoring system to another is not possible. A comparison between these scoring systems is only possible after adjusting the total points, the quality and the quantity of each criterion and component of the scoring system. This can done by using a standardized rating scale like the IKDC-score.