Management of combined injuries of the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner of the knee: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Approximately 60% of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury are associated with a posterolateral corner (PLC) tear.

SOURCES OF DATA: We performed a systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines. The following key words were searched on Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Ovid: 'posterior cruciate ligament' or 'PCL' with 'posterolateral corner' or 'PLC' and 'chronic'; 'injury'; 'management'; 'reconstruction'; 'outcomes'; 'complications'.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT: There was a statistically significant improvement of all clinical scores after surgery regardless of the procedure performed to reconstruct both PCL and PLC.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: No randomized control trials were identified on the topic. Standardized methods of functional outcomes assessment are necessary to improve communication on the functional results of the management of PC-PLC.

GROWING POINTS: Single stage surgical reconstruction of PCL and PLC is recommended in patients with posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Adequately powered randomized trials with appropriate subjective and objective outcome measures are necessary to reach definitive conclusions.