[Pre- and postoperative functional status of patients subjected to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction associated with knee dislocation].

INTRODUCTION The injury of the cruciate ligaments secondary to knee dislocation is caused by high energy trauma; its incidence rate is less than 0.02%; there are multiple treatments, with surgery being the most common one. OBJECTIVE To determine the functional characteristics of patients who underwent cruciate ligament plasty and sustained knee dislocation. MATERIAL AND METHODS An observational, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted including all adult patients with a diagnosis of cruciate ligament injury resulting from knee dislocation who were surgically treated from January 2006 to December 2007. Two knee functional assessment scales were used. RESULTS A total of 16 patients were included, 12 males and 4 females; mean age was 32.1 years. The Knee Society Clinical Rating Scale had a positive correlation with the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (r = 0.836) with p = 0.001. DISCUSSION The functional results of patients treated surgically are diverse. This study was not conducted as a controlled clinical trial due to the absence of randomization, which was not possible due to the infrequency of the condition. CONCLUSIONS It will be necessary to confirm the results after a longer follow-up and in a comparative, double-blind study of patients undergoing surgery.