Bilateral Floating Knee Injury-Management of a Complex Injury

J Long Term Eff Med Implants. 2019;29(1):1-6. doi: 10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.2019030557.

Abstract

Floating knee is a flail knee joint resulting from fractures of the shafts or adjacent metaphyses of the femur and ipsilateral tibia. Floating knee injuries may include a combination of diaphyseal, metaphyseal, and intra-articular fractures. Floating knee injuries are a group of complex injuries that require a careful assessment. This injury is generally caused by high-energy trauma with often extensive trauma to the soft tissues. There may also be life-threatening injuries to the head, chest, or abdomen and a high incidence of fat embolism. This complex injury has increased in proportion to population growth, number of motor vehicles on the road, and high-speed traffic. Although the precise incidence of a floating knee is not known, it is a relatively uncommon injury. Bilateral floating knee injuries are extremely rare, and there is only one case report in the literature with bilateral floating knee injuries. We present a case report of a 64-year-old lady who suffered a blunt abdominal injury (hemicolectomy and splenectomy) and bilateral floating knees during road traffic accident. We also offer guidance for the treatment of this complex injury, based on literature review.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Nails
  • Bone Plates
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / complications
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery*
  • Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary
  • Fractures, Comminuted / surgery*
  • Fractures, Open / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Perforation / surgery
  • Knee
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Trauma / surgery*
  • Splenic Rupture / surgery
  • Tibial Fractures / complications
  • Tibial Fractures / surgery*