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The Floating Knee Injuries: Does it Need a New Classification System?

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Abstract

Background

This study aims to determine the differences between the clinical and radiological results of patients based on Karlstrom–Olerud Scoring System who cannot be included in any classification for floating knee injuries and to seek an answer to the question of whether a new classification is needed.

Material and Methods

Seventy patients with floating knee injuries treated in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed between 2008 and 2019 in the study. The results of fractures that classifiable and unclassifiable according to the Fraser, Blake and McBryde classifications were statistically compared based on the Karlstrom–Olerud criteria.

Results

Seventy patients, 64 males and 6 females, participated in the study. The mean age of our patients was 32.3 ± 12.55 (18–68) years. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 30.26 ± 18.19 months (11–60 months). The results of the fractures that could not be classified according to the Blake and McBryde classification were statistically poorer than the results of those that could be classified according to the criteria (p = 0.041).

The results of the fractures that could not be classified according to the Fraser classification were statistically poorer than the results of those that could be classified according to the criteria defined by Karlstrom and Olerud (p = 0.010).

Conclusion

We observed that floating knee injuries that we could and could not classify led to different clinical results. In conclusion, we think that there is a need for a new floating knee classification that includes segmental fractures, patellar fractures and open fractures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji AD, Gaziantep Üniversitesi, Üniversite Bulvarı, Şehitkamil, 27310, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Burçin Karslı

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ersin Arslan Education Research Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Sezgin Bahadır Tekin

Authors
  1. Burçin Karslı
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  2. Sezgin Bahadır Tekin
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Correspondence to Burçin Karslı.

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Conflict of interest

Burçin Karslı, Sezgin Bahadır Tekin declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standard Statement

The study protocol was approved by Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Gaziantep University Medical Faculty and the study was conducted in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki.

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For this type of study informed consent is not required.

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Karslı, B., Tekin, S.B. The Floating Knee Injuries: Does it Need a New Classification System?. JOIO 55, 499–505 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00298-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00298-x

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