Ligamentous injuries of the lower limb are a common entity sustained during sports activities and military training. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the knee and ankle is playing an increasingly important role in the detection, diagnosis and prognosis of these injuries and their associated complications. MR imaging with its exquisite soft tissue contrast resolution and multiplanar capability is increasingly seen as the modality of choice for evaluating ligamentous injuries of the knee and ankle. Representative knee and ankle MR studies from a tertiary referral hospital are used to illustrate both the normal appearance and typical radiological features of common ligamentous injuries of the knee and ankle. A thorough understanding of the MR appearances of these injuries is crucial to the radiologist and clinicians involved in the management of these patients.
Ankle Injuries ; diagnosis ; Athletic Injuries ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; diagnosis ; Ligaments, Articular ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo study operative effects for the treatment of multiple ligament injuries of knee joints.

METHODSFrom 2008 to 2013, 26 patients (17 males and 9 females) with multiple ligament injuries of knee joints were treated surgically. The average age was 40.7 years old, ranging from 29 to 55 years old. All the patients were treated with arthroscopic reconstruction of cruiate ligament with autogenous or allogeneic hamstrings and tendon, and at the same time received repair of medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament, as well as the treatment of exterior and interior complex injuries. Nine patients received second stage operation after the initial operation for mistake or missed diagnosis, and other patients were treated at the first stage. The Lysholm scoring system was used to evaluate function and stability of knee joints before and after operation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for an average duration of 1.6 years (ranged, 0.8 to 3.2 years). The mean awaiting time for operation was 1.2 months. The Lysholm score was improved from preoperative 42.5 +/- 4.5 (ranged, 33 to 48) to the latest follow-up 78.1 +/- 3.9 (ranged, 57 to 95). The function of knee joint was improved obviously in the arthroscopic reconstruction patients, with joint range of motion exceeding 900 and with Varus & Valgus tests near to normal. All the patients had negative findings in the Lachman test at 70 degrees of flexion.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic reconstruction should be the first choice in treating multiple ligament injuries of knee joints. If the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries can't be treated simultaneously, the posterior cruciate ligament injuries should be treated preferentially at the first stage and the anterior cruciate ligament injuries should be treated at the second stage. The diagnosis of posterior cruciate ligament is easy to be missed.

Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Ligaments ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Trauma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome

Fracture of bilateral capitulum humeri is a very rare injury. We present a case of a 38-year-old woman, affected by a shear fracture of bilateral capitellum after a motorcycle accident. Intervention was carried out through a lateral approach on both sides and direct fixation of the fragment with headless screws. Consolidation was achieved and no signs of avascular necrosis occurred at 24 months of follow-up. The patient returned to her previous activities with no functional limitations. To the best of our knowledge, only four cases are reported describing different types of treatment and postoperative period of cast immobilization. According to our review of the literature regarding capitellar fractures, we preferred an immediate postoperative rehabilitation of the elbow, following the stable osteosynthesis.
Adult ; Collateral Ligaments ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular

BACKGROUND: During ligament balancing for severe medial contracture in varus knee total knee arthroplasty (TKA), complete distal release of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) or a medial epicondylar osteotomy can be necessary if a large amount of correction is needed. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 9 cases of complete distal release of the MCL and 11 cases of medial epicondylar osteotomy which were used to correct severe medial contracture. The mean follow-up periods were 46.5 months (range, 36 to 78 months) and 39.8 months (range, 32 to 65 months), respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the clinical results between the two groups. However, the valgus stress radiograph revealed significant differences in medial instability. In complete distal release of the MCL, some stability was obtained by repair and bracing but the medial instability could not be removed completely. CONCLUSIONS: Medial epicondylar osteotomy for a varus deformity in TKA could provide constant medial stability and be a useful ligament balancing technique.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint/physiopathology/radiography/*surgery ; Ligaments ; Ligaments, Articular/*physiopathology ; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee/physiopathology/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Locking of metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) of the index finger occurs when volar radial osteophytes of the metacarpal head catch the accessory collateral ligament. We devised a ligament-preserving approach to quickly restore the MPJ motion while protecting the radial collateral ligament. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of nine patients treated for a locked MPJ of the index finger. In three patients, closed reduction was successful. In six cases, volar radial osteophytes were excised from the metacarpal head using a ligament-preserving technique through a longitudinal incision on the radial side. We analyzed osteophyte shape and height as demonstrated by X-ray and computed tomography (CT). Function was evaluated by examining the range of motion, recurrence, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, and MPJ stability based on the key pinch strength. One male and eight female patients were followed for an average of 33 months (range, 12 to 65 months); the average age of patients was 41 years (range, 34 to 47 years). The average duration of locking of the MPJ was 23 days (range, 1 to 53 days). RESULTS: The sharp type of osteophytes was identified in six patients and the blunt type of osteophytes was indentified in three patients. The average height of radial osteophytes on the index finger metacarpal was 4.6 +/- 0.4 mm in the axial CT image. At the final follow-up, the average extension limitation decreased from 26degrees (range, 10degrees to 45degrees) to 0degrees, and further flexion increased from 83degrees (range, 80degrees to 90degrees) to 86degrees. There was no recurrent locking after surgery. The DASH score improved from 24.3 to 7.2. Key pinch strength improved from 67.3% to 90.4%. CONCLUSIONS: We obtained satisfactory outcomes in irreducible locking of the MPJ of the index finger by excising volar radial osteophytes of the metacarpal head using a ligament-preserving approach.
Adult ; Collateral Ligaments/*surgery ; Female ; Fingers/physiopathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint/physiopathology/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteophyte/complications/*surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of separation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis on ankle joint and to compare various operative methods so as to find suitable stabilization for separated distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

METHODSFrom July 1997 to July 2002, we treated 87 patients (64 males and 23 females, aged 18-54 years) with separation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, among whom, 79 were combined with fracture of malleolus. Manipulative reduction, internal fixation with cancellous screws and external fixation with plaster support were performed on 37 patients, fixation with plate and screws for fibular fracture and fixation with cancellous screws for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis on 34 patients, and repair of the distal tibiofibular ligaments with tendon of peroneus longus, reduction of the separated distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, and fixation with cancellous screws on 16 patients. The ankle joint had been dorsiflexed for 30 degrees when the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis was fixed with cancellous screws. And the cancellous screws were taken out at 8-10 weeks after operation.

RESULTSThese patients were followed up for at least two years. The curative effects were assessed according to the complaints of the patients and the contour, function and radiogram of the ankle joint: excellent in 55 patients (63%), good in 18 patients (21%), and fair in 14 patients (16%). Separation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis recurred in 2 patients, who underwent a reoperation for repairing the distal tibiofibular ligaments with tendon of peroneus longus and recovered. One cancellous screw was broken off. No necrosis developed in the anterior skin of the ankle mortise.

CONCLUSIONSSeparation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis can be treated with various reasonable operations. Repair with tendon of the peroneus longus can get excellent outcomes for complete separation of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Casts, Surgical ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments, Articular ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Tibia ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases in the world, and the prevalence rate of osteoarthritis increases with the increase of age. Artificial knee replacement surgery has become one of the major measures to treat the severe pathological changes in the knee. The bone mechanical axis realigning and the soft tissue balance are the two key problems in the artificial knee arthroplasty. In this paper is introduced the development of the technique for measuring the soft tissue balance in knee replacement. And it is concluded that such technique would be continuosly improved in light of the development in the sensor technique and computer aided surgery technique. The soft tissue balance in knee arthroplasty can prolong the life of the artificial knee.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Collateral Ligaments ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Knee Prosthesis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Recovery of Function ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods

Acromioclavicular Joint ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Ligaments, Articular ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Unstable simple elbow dislocation (USED) repair is challenged by the maintenance of joint reduction; hence, primary repair or reconstruction of disrupted ligaments is required to maintain the congruency and allow early motion of the elbow. We evaluated the effectiveness and the outcome of lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex repair with additional medial collateral ligament (MCL) repair in cases of USED. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases of diagnosed USED without fractures around the elbow that were treated with primary ligament repair. In all cases, anatomical repair of LCL complex with or without common extensor origin was performed using suture anchor and the bone tunnel method. Next, the instability and congruency of elbow for a full range of motion were evaluated under the image intensifier. MCL was repaired only if unstable or incongruent elbow was observed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and radiographic outcomes on last follow-up images. RESULTS: All cases achieved a stable elbow on radiographic and clinical results. LCL complex repair alone was sufficient to obtain the stable elbow in 17 of 21 cases. Four cases required additional MCL repair after restoration of the LCL complex. The overall mean MEPS was 91 (range, 70 to 100): excellent in 12 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 2 cases. All 17 cases with LCL complex repair only and 2 of 4 cases with additional MCL repair had excellent or good results by MEPS. CONCLUSIONS: USED requires surgical treatment to achieve a congruent and stable joint. If the repair of lateral stabilizer such as LCL complex acquires enough joint stability to maintain a full range of motion, it may not be necessary to repair the medial stabilizer in all cases of USED.
Adult ; Aged ; Collateral Ligaments/*surgery ; Dislocations/complications/physiopathology/*surgery ; Elbow Joint/*injuries/physiopathology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability/complications/physiopathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures/methods ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of coracohumeral ligament reconstruction with autologous double-strand of long palmaris longus tendon and artificial ligament for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

METHODSFrom April 2006 to June 2009, 31 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation were treated with coracohumeral ligament reconstruction using autologous double-strand palmaris longus tendon and artificial ligament. There were 18 males and 13 females, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years, with an average of 35 years. Twenty-six patients were acute trauma and other 5 patients were chronic trauma. Preoperative symptoms included different degrees of pain, restricted movement, and instability of acromioclaviecular joint. The X-ray showed acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

RESULTSThe patients had good incision union without vascular and nerve injuries. All the patients were followed up, and the average duration was 23 months. The JOA scores decreased from preoperative (38.8 +/- 1.5) to (73.2 +/- 1.1) at 1 month after operation,and (93.5 +/- 0.8)at the last follow-up. Twenty-eight patients got an excellent result, 2 good and 1 fair.

CONCLUSIONThe reconstruction of coracohumeral ligament using autologous double-strand palmaris longus tendon and artificial ligament is an effective method for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Artificial Organs ; Clavicle ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Ligaments, Articular ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Scapula ; Tendons ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult