Does age predict outcome after multiligament knee reconstruction for the dislocated knee? 2- to 22-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether age is a predictor of clinical and functional outcomes in patients who sustained a knee dislocation (KD) and underwent multiligament knee reconstruction. It was hypothesized that increasing age will negatively affect patient outcome.

METHODS

In total, 125 multiligament knee injuries (MLKI) associated with KD were surgically reconstructed between 1992 and 2013 and evaluated with IKDC and Lysholm scores at a median follow-up of 5 (range 2-22) years. Patient demographics including age were then analysed with respect to IKDC and Lysholm scores using rank sums and pair-wise rank sums analysis for continuous variables and Chi-square analysis for categorical variables.

RESULTS

In total, 125 patients (96 males and 29 females) with a median age of 31 (range 11-62) years at the time of surgery were included. At final follow-up, patients ≤30 years old compared to >30 years old obtained higher IKDC (73.3 vs. 61.9; p = 0.01) and Lysholm scores (76.9 vs. 68.5; p = 0.04). No confounding variables including gender, injury mechanism, injury pattern, injuries to the peroneal nerve, popliteal artery, meniscus, or cartilage accounted for differences in outcome scores between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Based on current available literature, this study represents the largest cohort with the longest follow-up reported on MLKI to date. At intermediate- to long-term follow-up, patients >30 years of age that undergo multiligament knee reconstruction for KD have inferior IKDC and Lysholm scores compared to those ≤30 years of age. However, successful multiligament knee reconstruction can still be obtained in this age group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.