• Christopher J Peskun, Jas Chahal, Zvi Y Steinfeld, and Daniel B Whelan.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toronto, St Michael's Hospital, 55 Queen Street E, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5C 1R6, Canada.
• Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 2012 Mar 1;470(3):774-8.

BackgroundAcute knee dislocation is rare but has a high rate of associated neurovascular injuries and potentially limb-threatening complications. These include the substantial morbidity associated with peroneal nerve injury: neuropathic pain, decreased mobility, and considerably reduced function, which not only impairs patient function but complicates treatment.Questions/PurposesWe therefore identified and quantified the risks associated with specific factors for peroneal nerve injury and recovery in patients with knee dislocations.Patients And MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the charts of 26 patients, from among a cohort of all 91 knee dislocations, with a peroneal nerve palsy over a 5-year period. We then used univariable and multivariable statistics to identify risk factors predicting peroneal nerve injury and recovery.ResultsGender (odds ratio, 5.47), body mass index (odds ratio, 1.14), and fibular head fracture (odds ratio, 4.77) were associated with peroneal nerve injury. Only younger age was associated with peroneal nerve recovery.ConclusionsKnowledge of the risk factors for peroneal nerve injury and the predictors of recovery in knee dislocation allows the treating surgeon to have a better understanding of the nature of the neurologic injury and modify management based on the anticipated return of nerve function.Level Of EvidenceLevel II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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