Acute tears of the posterior cruciate ligament: clinical study and results of operative treatment in 27 cases.

Twenty-seven knees (in 27 patients) operated on for acute posterior cruciate ligament tears at the Istituto Ortopedico "G. Pini" of Milan from 1974 to 1979 are documented according to injury, type and degree of instability, surgical technique, and treatment. Materials for this study came from clinical evaluations, roentgenograms, and operative observations. Inability to obtain follow-up data eliminated two cases from the results. Followup on the other patients ranged from 2 to 5 years and consisted in part of individual interviews conducted after reintroduction into working and sporting activity. Three separate gradings of the results were assessed: objective, subjective, and functional. The overall results in the objective category were 48% good, 44% fair, and 8% poor. Functional gradings were 55% good and 45% fair, while subjectively patients reported 70% good and 30% fair results.