DOS 2018

228 · DOS Abstracts Short term outcome after 12-week posterior tibial support brace treatment combined with a standardized exercise protocol for patients with acute injury of the posterior cruciate ligament Randi Gram Rasmussen, Birgitte Blaabjerg, Torsten Grønbech Nielsen, Martin Lind Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital; Division of Sports Trauma, Department of Orthopedic Surgery , Aarhus University Hospital Background: Non-operative treatment is first choice in patients with acute isolated grade 1 and 2 ruptures of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), grade 3 ruptures are often surgically treated. Purpose / Aim of Study: To evaluate short term clinical outcome of non- operative treatment of PCL using a posterior tibial support (PTS) brace in com- bination with a standardized exercise protocol. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study, 50 patients (37 males) with a mean age of 33 years (range 15-61) Data was collected from June 2015 to June 2018. PCL lesions were diagnosed by MRI and treatment was initiated within eight weeks of injury. Mechanism of injury: Sports 74%, traffic 12%, daily activity 10% and work- related 4%. Twenty-three (46%) patients had an isolated PCL injury, Twenty-seven (54%) had a multi- ligament injury and fourteen (52%) of these had knee dislocations. The rehabilitation program: PTS brace for 12 weeks and a 16-week standardized, home-based exercise protocol. Evaluation of PCL healing at 12 weeks: posterior drawer and tibial off- set test. Patients with significant objective PCL instability were offered surgical treatment. Findings / Results: Seven patients (14%) were converted to PCL reconstruc- tion; two (9%) of these had an isolated PCL ligament injury and five (36%) pa- tients had knee dislocations. Time from initiation of non-operative treatment to PCL reconstruction was a mean of 13 months (range 9,5-14). Conclusions: Short term outcome of non-operative treatment of PCL using a combination of the PTS brace and a standardized exercise protocol resulted in conversion to PCL reconstruction in 9% patients with isolated PCL lesion and in 36% patients with knee dislocation. Isolated PCL lesions can heal sufficiently with non-operative treatment, whereas knee dislocation PCL injuries have poor healing ability and often will require surgery. 169.