Floating knee injuries: a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes and prognostic factors.

IF 2 4区医学 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

Irish Journal of Medical Science Pub Date : 2026-10-10 DOI:10.1007/s11845-026-04679-3

Murat Taşcı, Furkan Uçar, Mustafa Murat Hakyoldaş

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background/ aims: Floating knee injury is a rare high-energy trauma pattern frequently associated with concomitant organ injuries. Optimal treatment timing and the role of external fixation remain subjects of ongoing debate.

Methods: Twenty-one patients who underwent surgery for ipsilateral femoral and tibial fractures were retrospectively reviewed. Fractures were classified using the Fraser and Gustilo-Anderson systems. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Karlström-Olerud criteria.

Results: The mean age was 31 ± 12.1 years; 85% of patients were male. The mean follow-up was 66.6 months. The most common injury mechanism was motorcycle accident (71.4%). According to Karlström criteria, 76.1% of patients achieved excellent or good functional outcomes. External fixation was associated with significantly longer total hospital stay (p = 0.003) and higher superficial infection rates (60.0% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.028) however, this likely reflects greater initial injury severity in patients selected for this approach rather than a direct effect of the device. Patients requiring postoperative ICU admission had significantly higher complication rates (75% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.032). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) correlated significantly with operative time (rs = 0.549, p = 0.010). Delayed definitive surgery was associated with longer total hospital stay (rs = 0.492, p = 0.024) but had no effect on functional outcomes or complication rates. Fraser classification and Gustilo-Anderson grade did not significantly influence functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Floating knee injuries carry significant morbidity despite favourable functional outcomes in the majority of patients. External fixation prolongs hospitalisation and increases infection risk, highlighting the importance of early conversion to definitive fixation in eligible patients. Postoperative ICU admission may serve as a useful indicator for heightened complication risk.

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浮动膝损伤：治疗结果和预后因素的回顾性分析。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Irish Journal of Medical Science 医学-医学：内科

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

4.80%

发文量

357

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Irish Journal of Medical Science is the official organ of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland. Established in 1832, this quarterly journal is a contribution to medical science and an ideal forum for the younger medical/scientific professional to enter world literature and an ideal launching platform now, as in the past, for many a young research worker. The primary role of both the Academy and IJMS is that of providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information and to promote academic discussion, so essential to scientific progress.