K Shirakura, M Terauchi, H Higuchi, K Takagishi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Gunma, Japan

Y Kobayashi, M Kimura
Gunma Sports Medicine Research Center, Zenshukai Hospital, Gunma, Japan

This study was made to compare the results after operative versus non-operative management for tears in the substance of posterior cruciate ligament. The subjects were 40 patients, half of whom were managed operatively and the other half non-operatively. End-to- end suture was performed on the operated group. The procedure was followed by cast immobilization for 4 weeks. Non-operative management consisted of immobilization in a cast for 4 weeks after arthroscopy. The average follow-up periods were 6 years 7 months and 4 years 3 months. The operated knees were significantly more stable than those of the non-operated group on stress radiographs (p<0.0001), but not to the extent of an age-matched control group (p<0.0001). The knee rating scores did not indicate any improvement of the functional outcome in the operated group. Surgery resulted in better posterior laxity than non-operative management; the achieved stability, however, was clearly less than in controls.

Key words: knee; posterior cruciate ligament; stress radiograph