To explore the clinical effect of periarticular knee fractures combined with anterolateral ligament (ALL) avulsion fracture.

From June 2014 to November 2015, 13 patients with ALL avulsion fracture in periarticular knee fractures were fixed by the star plate, cannulated or screws suture anchor, including 9 male and 3 female with the mean age of 39.5 years (range from 28 to 51 years). 6 patients were diagnosed distal femoral fracture, 4 tibial plateau fracture, and 3 tibial in-tercondylar eminence avulsion fracture which all combined with ALL avulsion fracture. Postoperatively, all patients were treated with the adjustable knee brace for 3 months.

All patients were followed up for 4-20 months, the mean follow-up time was 13.5 months. The average surgical time was 130 min (range from 90 to 210 min). In all 13 patients, ALL was found and identi-fied. Bone union was obtained in all patients, and the bone union time was 11.4 weeks (10-12 weeks). 7 cases were fixed with star plate, 5 cases were fixed with hollow screw, and 1 case was fixed with anchor. All follow-up patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral X-rays. Pain, swelling and functional recovery of the knee joint were observed. Patients were assessed postoperatively with International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale to evaluate the clinical ef-fect. At the last follow-up, all patients had full range of motion of the knee joint which from 0° to approximate 120°. The Lysholm, objective IKDC were 86.5 and 84.6 respectively. Among the 13 patients evaluated, 9 patients were graded A, and 4 patients were graded B by subjective IKDC. The Tegner activity scale at the last follow-up was 6.7. Incision of poor healing in 1 case, and got healed after 32 d cleaning dressing.

This study confirmed the presence of the ALL. The fixation of ALL avulsion fracture in periarticular knee fractures can be an effective procedure at a minimum follow-up of 13.5 months.

Ligament; Fractures; Fracture fixation, internal