Multiligament knee trauma is frequently the result of a high energy injury such
as a car accident or fall from a height. It can also occur from a sports
injury, or rarely a fall at work or during everyday activity. In these injuries
two or more of the major ligaments in the knee are injured severely and require
surgery. If three or all four of the major ligaments are injured, the knee may
be dislocated.
These injuries are generally associated with severe pain and swelling of the
knee. Patients can generally not walk and in some cases have damage to the
nerves or arteries of the leg. Because many ligaments in the knee are injured,
the knee is generally unstable after a period of healing. The patient feels
unstable on their knee and it can feel loose and wobbly.
In some cases one or more of the ligaments may heal without surgery. In most
patients, surgery is required to reconstruct ligaments. Repair may be performed
where the ligaments are stitched back together but frequently the ligaments
must be constructed using a graft to make a new ligament. The graft may be
taken from the patient, or frequently donor tissue (allograft) is used since
many grafts are required.
After multiligament knee reconstruction patients are in a brace and do not bear
weight for approximately four weeks, depending on the procedure. Physical
therapy is required and crutches are generally used for over one month.
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