Atypical Multi-ligamentous Knee Injury (MLKI): Binary Injury with Avulsion of One Cruciate and Tear of the Other, or Bi-cruciates Avulsion with or Without Collateral Ligament Injury Following Road Traffic Accidents (RTA)

Background Multi-ligamentous knee injuries (MLKI) fall within a narrow spectrum, accounting for around 11% of all knee injuries. Atypical MLKI involve binary injury: avulsion of one cruciate and tear of the other, or both cruciates avulsion with or without collateral ligament injury. Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients diagnosed with atypical MLKI, and to assess the differences in outcomes between patients with collateral injury and those without. Methods 66 patients with atypical MLKI were studied and compared in this retrospective cohort. 32 of these patients did not have collateral injuries, while the remaining 34 patients did have collateral injuries. The duration of the study was from 2010 to 2022. Reconstruction for the cruciate tears and open or arthroscopic reduction and fixation (ORIF/ARIF) of the cruciate avulsion were performed. In earlier years (2010–2015), posterior cruciate ligament avulsions were open reduced and fixed using the double draping approach. However, in later years (2016–2022), the double draping method was replaced by the single draping technique. Conservative or surgical management of the collateral ligaments was determined based on factors such as intraoperative laxity, tissue quality, injury site, and chronicity. Group 1 comprised of atypical MLKI patients without collateral ligament injuries, while Group 2 included atypical MLKI patients with collateral ligament injuries and subgroup was based on the various combinations of cruciate avulsions, tears and collateral injuries. A comparative statistical analysis was conducted on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, knee flexion range of motion (ROM), and laxity on stress radiographs. Results The male:female ratio were 54:12 patients. The average follow-up was 26.48 months (range 23–30 months). The average age of the patients is 37.66 (range 20–50 years). All patients had significant improvement from pre-operative scores to final follow-up scores ( P