Acute knee dislocation

Indications for the use of the external fixator at the emergency room

Authors

  • Mateo Pamparato Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica de Traumatologia y Ortopedia, Residente
  • Juan M. Del Castillo Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica de Traumatologia y Ortopedia, Asistente
  • Luis Francescoli Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica de Traumatologia y Ortopedia, Profesor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29193/RMU.37.3.7

Keywords:

ACUTE KNEE DISLOCATION, EXTERNAL FIXATORS, ARTICULAR LIGAMENTS

Abstract

Introduction: traumatic dislocation of the knee constitutes an unusual lesion in orthopedic pathology, the diagnosis of which is often missed. This is because it occurs in the context of multiple trauma patients, and failure to diagnose it may result in a potentially fatal outcome for the life-threatening compromise of the injured limb.
Objective: to perform a literature review of literature on indications for the use of the external fixator in the acute knee dislocation at the emergency room that has been available in the last twenty years.
Method: we conducted a systematized search by means of electronic search engines Cochrane, Lilacs, Scielo, Pubmed, Science direct and the Timbó portal. The search included 6495 articles and according to the criteria of inclusion and exclusion 14 studies were selected.
Results: the review highlights that most articles found are level of evidence IV. The use of the external fixator in the emergency room as part of the temporary stabilization and initial handling of the condition would be indicated in the following clinical scenarios: multiple trauma patients, vascular lesion, exposed dislocation, joint instability, recurrent dislocation, fracture dislocation, lesions of the extensor apparatus, morbid obesity, splint or orthosis intolerance.
Conclusion: systematization and the observation of protocols when it comes to the making of decisions enables the decrease of most complications associated to trauma pathologies. Actions must be geared to stabilizing patients first and to stabilize the knee joint. The external fixator is indicated for specific clinical scenarios. However, some of these indications are still a matter of debate.

References

1) Maslaris A, Brinkmann O, Bungartz M, Krettek C, Jagodzinski M, Liodakis E. Management of knee dislocation prior to ligament reconstruction: what is the current evidence? Update of a universal treatment algorithm. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2018; 28(6):1001-15. doi: 10.1007/ s00590-018-2148-4.
2) Moatshe G, Chahla J, LaPrade RF, Engebretsen L. Diagnosis and treatment of multiligament knee injury: state of the art. J ISAKOS 2017; 2(3):152-61. doi: 10.1136/jisakos-2016-000072.
3) Court-Brown CM, Heckman JD, McQueen MM, Ricci WM, Tornetta III P, eds. Rockwood and green´s fractures in adults. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, 2015.
4) Cooper A. A treatise on dislocations and on fractures of the joints: fractures of the neck of the thigh-bone. 1923. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2007; 458:6-7. doi: 10.1097/BLO. 0b013e31803dee7c.
5) A treatise on dislocations and on fractures of the joints. Edinb Med Surg J 1824; 21(79):370-97.
6) Birkett J. Compound dislocation of the knee. Lancet 1850; 2:703.
7) Plancher KD, Siliski JM. Dislocation of the knee. In: Plancher KD, Siliski JM, eds. Traumatic disorders of the knee. New York: Springer, 1994:315-31. doi: 10.1007/978-1- 4612-4310-6_18.
8) Gigante F, Miguel Lapera M, Pérez Zabala M, Pesolani M, Serpone A. Conducta inicial en la luxación aguda de rodilla. Nuestra experiencia de 20 años. Artroscopía 2016; 23(2):61-9.
9) McKee L, Ibrahim MS, Lawrence T, Pengas IP, Khan WS. Current concepts in acute knee dislocation: the missed diagnosis? Open Orthop J 2014; 8:162-7. doi: 10.2174/1874325001408010162.
10) Seroyer ST, Musahl V, Harner CD. Management of the acute knee dislocation: the Pittsburgh experience. Injury 2008; 39(7):710-8. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2007.11.022.
11) De Los Ríos A. Luxación de rodilla: tratamiento quirúrgico en casos agudos. Rev Colom Ortop Traumatol 2005; 19(3):34-43.
12) Carredano GX, Valderrama R J, Montenegro BD, Lizama CP, Bernal BN, Valderrama SI, et al. Luxación expuesta de rodilla: ¿Qué hemos aprendido en los últimos 20 años? Rev Chil Ortop Traumatol 2018: 59(2):47-54.
13) Kupczik F, Schiavon MEG, Vieira LA, Tenius DP, Fávaro RC. Knee dislocation: descriptive study of injuries. Rev Bras Ortop 2013; 48(2):145-51. doi: 10.1016/j.rboe. 2012.10.002.
14) Stannard J. Fracture dislocation of the knee. J Knee Surg 2016; 29(4):300-2. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1583177.
15) Scarcella NR, Weinberg DS, Bowen S, Vallier HA. Clinical and functional results of 119 patients with knee dislocations. J Orthop Trauma 2017; 31(7):380-6. doi: 10.1097/ BOT.0000000000000839.
16) Levy BA, Krych AJ, Shah JP, Morgan JA, Stuart MJ. Staged protocol for initial management of the dislocated knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2010; 18(12):1630-7. doi: 10.1007/s00167-010-1209-y.
17) Zamir M, Noor SS, Rahim Najjad MK, Aliuddin AM, Ghilzai AK. Knee dislocations and popliteal artery injury: a single centre experience from Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014; 64(12 Suppl 2):S91-4.
18) Moatshe G, Dornan GJ, Løken S, Ludvigsen TC, LaPrade RF, Engebretsen L. Demographics and injuries associated with knee dislocation: a prospective review of 303 patients. Orthop J Sports Med 2017; 5(5):2325967117706521. doi: 10.1177/2325967117706521.
19) López-Hualda A, Valencia-García H, Martínez-Martín J. Lesiones vasculares asociadas a luxación de rodilla: protocolo diagnóstico. Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol 2012; 56(4):260-6. doi: 10.1016/j.recot.2011.12.005.
20) Lustig S, Leray E, Boisrenoult P, Trojani C, Laffargue P, Saragaglia D, et al. Dislocation and bicruciate lesions of the knee: epidemiology and acute stage assessment in a prospective series. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2009; 95(8):614-20. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2009.10.005.
21) Liu CC, Gao X, Xu M, Knog ZG. Surgical management of posterior knee dislocation associated with extensor apparatus rupture. Knee 2017; 24(5):940-8. doi: 10.1016/ j.knee. 2017.05.023.
22) Novoa Sierra B, Estrems Díaz V, Ribas García-Peñuela JS, Bru Pomer A. Luxaciones de rodilla: revisión de 11 casos. Rev Esp Cir Ost 2015; 50(262):123-7. Disponible en: http://www.cirugia-osteoarticular.org/adaptingsystem/intercambio/revistas/articulos/2393_123.pdf. (Consulta: 16 febrero 2020).
23) Teissier V, Tresson P, Gaudric J, Davaine JM, Scemama C, Raux M, et al. Importance of early diagnosis and care in knee dislocations associated with vascular injuries. Ann Vascular Surg 2019; 61:238-45. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2019. 04.016.
24) Niall D, Nutton RW, Keating JF. Palsy of the common peroneal nerve after traumatic dislocation of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005; 87(5):664-7.
25) McKee L, Ibrahim MS, Lawrence T, Pengas IP, Khan WS. Current concepts in acute knee dislocation: the missed diagnosis? Open Orthop J 2014; 8:162-7. doi: 10.2174/1874325001408010162. eCollection 2014.
26) Ramírez-Bermejo E, Gelber PE, Pujol N. Management of acute knee dislocation with vascular injury: the use of the external fixator. A systematic review. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2020. doi: 10.1007/s00402-020-03684-0.

Published

2021-09-17

How to Cite

1.
Pamparato M, Del Castillo JM, Francescoli L. Acute knee dislocation: Indications for the use of the external fixator at the emergency room. Rev. Méd. Urug. [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 17 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];37(3):e37308. Available from: https://revista.rmu.org.uy/index.php/rmu/article/view/750

Issue

Section

Review or Update and Updates