Research article

Impact of associated injuries in the Floating knee: A retrospective study

Ulfin Rethnam¹ , Rajam S Yesupalan² and Rajagopalan Nair³

¹  Department of Orthopaedics, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, UK

²  Department of Accident & Emergency, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, UK

³  Department of Orthopaedics, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, India

author email corresponding author email

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2009, 10:7doi:10.1186/1471-2474-10-7

Published:	14 January 2009

Abstract

Background

Floating knee injuries are usually associated with other significant injuries. Do these injuries have implications on the management of the floating knee and the final outcome of patients? Our study aims to assess the implications of associated injuries in the management and final outcome of floating knee.

Methods

29 patients with floating knees were assessed in our institution. A retrospective analysis of medical records and radiographs were done and all associated injuries were identified. The impact of associated injuries on delay in initial surgical management, delay in rehabilitation & final outcome of the floating knee were assessed.

Results

38 associated injuries were noted. 7 were associated with ipsilateral knee injuries. Lower limb injuries were most commonly associated with the floating knee. Patients with some associated injuries had a delay in surgical management and others a delay in post-operative rehabilitation. Knee ligament and vascular injuries were associated with poor outcome.

Conclusion

The associated injuries were quite frequent with the floating knee. Some of the associated injuries caused a delay in surgical management and post-operative rehabilitation. In assessment of the final outcome, patients with associated knee and vascular injuries had a poor prognosis. Majority of the patients with associated injuries had a good or excellent outcome.